Classroom design gaining attention
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First-grade students play in an area created behind their classroom at Seoul Geumho Elementary School in a renovation project by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in this file photo. / Courtesy of Geumho Elementary School
Seoul education office initiates project to renovate standardized classrooms
By Kim Bo-eun
Most elementary and secondary schools in Korea have the same rectangular structure in which classrooms are lined up along a straight corridor.
Students take classes in rows of desks facing a chalkboard in a mostly bare, square-form classroom.
This standardized design originated from the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945), and the structure was mostly maintained for decades to follow.
Newly built schools have started adopting more creative designs, based on studies that illustrate the effect of classroom design on students’ learning.
In line with this trend, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) has taken measures to transform these standardized classrooms into ones that promote creativity.
As a pilot project, the education office renovated classrooms for first and second graders at 20 schools in the city.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) and SMOE spent 5.3 billion won ($473 million) on the renovation project _ an average of 50 million won per classroom.
Led by architects, students and teachers took part in the design process.
Integrating play into classroom
Geumho Elementary School is one of the 20 schools that were selected to receive funding for the project.
“We could see that first graders were experiencing difficulty adjusting to elementary school classrooms,” Kim Jae-whan, an official from the Seoul Seongdong Gwangjin District Office of Educational Support, said at a ceremony marking the completion of the school’s renovations, Nov. 8.
“This is because of the difference between the colorful playrooms at kindergartens and the rather dull elementary school classrooms.”
This drastic change can place greater stress on young students, who face the increasing academic burden of studying, taking tests and receiving grades in elementary school.
“We figured we needed to provide them stability not only by providing them a play-centered curriculum, but also by changing the hardware _ the classrooms,” Kim said.
Over the course of the spring semester, designers worked with children to create a layout for their dream classroom.
As homework for art class, designers instructed the students to draw what kind of classroom they wished to study in.
“Because most children live in apartments, many of them drew pictures of exotic spaces they saw in story books or movies, such as attics,” said Cho Se-yeon, a designer at Wise Architecture in charge of the project.
“We studied the developmental characteristics of seven to nine-year-olds and found play is important for them. So we aimed to make a creative space where children were able to draw pictures and create an area of their own.”
Geumho renovated a total of six classrooms, which incorporated sofas and a beehive structure where students were able to read books; and for the smaller classrooms, an attic area, and a slide for the bigger ones.
Students welcomed the renovations completed last month.
“I like the attic, slide and doodle board,” said Lee Seo-yoon, a first grader.
“It is nice that the classroom changed in the way we drew pictures of them.”
Parents also showed a favorable response.
“Parents are most concerned about their child’s adjustment when entering elementary school,” Lee Jeong-im, a parent of a first-grader, said.
“It is great that the school now has classrooms that are designed for play-based education.”
She also commented on seasonal and weather-based circumstances which limit children from outdoor play.
“I am happy that now they are able to relieve their stress and release their energy in the classroom regardless of such circumstances,” Lim said.
The response was alike for teachers, but they also face a greater challenge in maintaining safety and order.
“Due to the new features, teachers face a greater need for discipline inside the classroom _ such as having to limit the time students are able to access the play area, and teach rules and manners when it comes to using the slide and doodle board,” said Gyong Gyu-ran, a first-grade teacher.
Meanwhile, the SMOE plans to continue efforts to renovate classrooms.
“We will continue projects to improve the learning environment for students and through innovation of spaces at schools, we hope the classes will encourage greater student participation and cooperation,” SMOE Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon said.