Interior Design- Space Unit

Summary

A descriptive, hands-on approach to teaching the concept of space as an element of design. Students immediately put conceptual learning into use.

Materials

student listening guide (attached) graph paper, magazines, paper cutter, page protectors

Background for Teachers

Information for the student listening guide handout is found in the space section of the Utah state interior design curriculum binder. Teachers need to be familiar with this information to answer students' questions. Textbook references are helpful also.

Student Prior Knowledge

Assigning students to read the section on space in their textbook will help classroom discussion and prepare them for their assignment.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Practical applications of space planning for interiors. Also, identification of techniques to help achieve the desired space effect in a room.

Instructional Procedures

1. Ask students what space is. (The area a designer is given to work with.) 2. Give them the correct definition according to interior design purposes and have them write it on their listening guide. 3. Continue with a class discussion using background info from the curriculum or textbook, having the students fill in listening guide. 4. Answer any questions. 5. Let them be the designers for a few minutes. Give them the space of the classroom and let them experiment with possible placement of desks, tables, etc. in the classroom. 6. For each solution they come up with, let them move the objects in the room around. 7. Discuss the pros and cons of each set up as a class. (When I did this, they trapped each other into little sections of the classroom. I simply pointed out that in the event of a fire drill, some of us would have to crawl or climb out of the classroom.) 8. When experiment is over, have students find an example of space and mount it for their portfolio. 9. Assign homework.

Strategies for Diverse Learners

The hands on approach works well for diverse learners. The homework assignment also lets them pick the room/space of their choice to evaluate and replan. Students can get as indepth or simple as their faculties are capable.

Extensions

Assessment Plan

Rubrics are attached for described homework assignments. Students are also given points for actively participating in classroom movement experiment. A few questions from this section will be on unit test for Elements of Design.

Bibliography

Space unit from Utah curriculum binder Interior Design