Integrate displays into lessons

DfL Idea a video by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

A comment by Theo in Year 12 recommending that teachers get students to create displays as part of the process of learning.

DfL Seminar

Have a look through some of the different ways in which DfL has been used in this blog.

Download this file which contains a number of different types of display that might challenge you to think differently about display. You can also download this tips sheet for general considerations.

In pairs and with a partner that is in a different department and preferably another wing, choose form the list as a starting point and try to develop a display in response. Try to collect the following information:

• Theme/Topic
• Site/Location
• Resources
• Learning Aims

Using the Revised Bloom's Taxonomy, try to incorporate different components or learning tasks that might stretch students' thinking. Share your outcomes with the others in the group as a plenary.

The following presentation on using the taxonomy to develop pupil talk might be useful:



As an extension, start planning out possibilities for the Work-related Learning display for your department to take back and share with at your department meeting.

Online Magnetic Poetry Starter

A useful starter activity in English might be to have the following website up:

http://www.magneticpoetry.com/play/

and then ask the students to create a very short poem or statement using the words that are dragged.

Wordle Posters

Wordle is a program that allows you to generate a visual representation of the most commonly found words in a text.

http://www.wordle.net/

You could use it to display key words and content and then enlarge it using block posters (see previous post).

Idea Generator

Ever find that you need something a random words generator to help spark your imagination? This online tool does exactly that and might be a useful starting point for generating ideas:

http://www.tdbspecialprojects.com/

Living displays

DfL Archive, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

Mr Wood has been keeping fish in his class room and gets the caretaker to look after them during the holidays. In theory, it is perfectly possible to do a display that involves living organisms, but probably best to stick to plants rather than animals.

Window displays

DfL Archive, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

Windows are often considered a no-go zone for displays, but they can be creatively used as in the case of this x-ray of the human body in this biology classroom.

Blooms Taxonomy Revised

The following poster can be used in the classroom if you would like to refer pupils to the Bloom's Revised Taxonomy in order to establish what kind of thinking skills they are displaying:

Another method might be to have these headings in the room and then your learning objectives can be written underneath the appropriate heading to establish the type of thinking that is taking place.

Quick Framed Wall

DfL Archive, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

If you believe that your work runs the risk of being ruined whilst out, then it is possible to install frames directly on the wall which can be updated by unscrewing them with a philips screw driver. In the example here, I have attached the brackets on the outside and they are simple to change.

6th Form Stairwell Gallery

DfL Archive, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

For the past year, I have been experimenting with using the stairwell at the top of the sixth form block as a gallery for A-level students to have a permanent frame to exhibit their photographic work. During assessment periods, they are expected to update their displays and we use it as a place to discuss their work. It has been a much more interesting way of assessing work rather than solely in the classroom.

I would like to roll it out across my GCSE art groups as well by identifying spaces around school.

DfL Ideas

DfL Idea a video by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

Walking around school seemed like a good opportunity to ask pupils about the possibilities of display around school. Theo in Year 12 believes that pupils should always be involved in putting up and creating displays. I think his point is very important since the experience of putting together a display often reinforces the ideas behind it.

Consider the Walls

Consider the Walls is an article written by Patricia Tarr, a university professor, who has written about the role of display for learning:

Applying colour to mood

The following website asks you to vote on different colours in relation to words and provides an interesting reference point for analysing how we apply colour to mood and is probably used by advertising companies. It might be useful in identifying some of the colours that you use in your displays to enhance (or suppress!) moods:

http://www.cymbolism.com/

Create Large Posters Easily

The following website enables for to create large posters by enlarging an image to fit a number of A4 pages:

http://www.blockposters.com/

Japanese Earthquake Appeal Display

As part of a fund raising effort to raise money for the effects of the Japanese earthquake, we are encouraging students to get sponsorship for making origami bird sculptures which can form part of a large display in South Wing foyer.

The presentation for the assembly is below:

Frankenstein - Literary Week

photo 2.JPG, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

This week, the English department have been celebrating the gothic period in literature looking at Frankenstein and have put up a number of displays (and sheep!) around school. You can see their large poster display in North Wing hall. Year 12 and 13 students have also been dressing up and painting each other in order to perform in front of younger students.

Tony Cragg's Recycled Art Works

The artist Tony Cragg is well known for using recycled objects to create his sculptures and he might be an interesting sculptor to create a display in response to in order to raise environmental awareness about waste and the role of recycling.

Languages Cross-Curricular Posters

Mr Price often gets students to reproduce famous works of art and then label them using french vocabulary, which then form part of his displays:

Teaching Photos Website

Another website that might be of interest is the 'Teaching Photos' site, which can be viewed here. Below is a display of the body with photos of the teachers and students stitched together to make up a Frankenstein image:

Classrooms Displays Blog

There is currently a blog managed by an ex-teacher assistant called Linda Hartley, where you can find lots of ideas about display layouts and ideas. It is mostly aimed at primary schools, but you might find some interested areas for consideration. The blog can be accessed here and below is her flickr group slideshow:

Displays used for Competitions

Virtuous Flock Photo Small, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

Try using a display area as an exhibition space for a competition to design an outcome. In this case, the poster was designed by N10 productions, a Fortismere student-staff theatre production company and won an award for best poster at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.

Display for Research

Fortismere, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

A display can be a space for documenting on-going research into a subject area. In this example, the Dance staff used it to get students researching into parkour, which is very popular with students.

Display of NRA Photos

Every year during the Year 11 National Record of Achievement (NRA) ceremony, I help to photograph the students all dressed up and take photos against a white backdrop. They make an incredible effort, really taking time to present themselves. This year, a group of Year 11 and A-Level students have asked to take over and will be running the show tomorrow. I have a large archive of photos that would be great to display around the school and am thinking about South Wing assembly hall as a permanent space. Below is a video of some of the shots from the past few years:

Berlin Wall Transition Day

Mr Joy has been working with the History department to plan for a large display that helps to transform the History department corridor so that it represents East and West Berlin. If anyone would like to support with the project or has any good ideas, please get in touch with Mr Joy directly. Some of his initial ideas are contained in the following presentation:

T-Shirt Display

The English department have been celebrating their frankenstein book week by wearing quotes from the book. Consider how you might use unconventional formats to engage students into thinking about your subject.

Installations

Consider making an installation or set piece that tells a part of a story or situation that can be the basis for a discussion or linked to a topic. For example, in RS, it might be the food left over from the Last Supper or model tools made of papier mache used at a certain time in history such as the iron age. If you involve students in the making of the process, it becomes a much more rewarding outcome.

Projecting Images/Text

A useful technique for tracing shapes onto a wall is to use an overhead projector to enlarge your image/text and then go over it with pen or marker pens. We often use this technique in art to transpose images onto large areas.

Cross-Curricular Displays

During the Historical Fiction Day, Art and History collaborated to produce this interpretation of the Bayeux Tapestry. Once established, the display coincidentally became a useful reference board for Modern Language students to practice their vocabulary.

Cluttered Desk

Fortismere, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

They say a cluttered desk represents a cluttered mind, yet I suppose its better than having a simple desk space! It would make an interesting photographic project to document department offices...

Outdoor Spaces & Objects

Fortismere Activity Week, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

As part of theme days, a group of students helped to renovate the pond area around the back of the D&T block in North Wing. There are many unconventional areas around the school that could do with being redecorated.

This particular project involved understanding about landscape design, but it could be built around many other areas of learning such as horticulture.

Outdoor Displays

Fortismere Activity Week, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

Think about how you might create a semi-permanent display which is the result of an extra-curricular day workshop like this container painted by students outside the library.

The Science department are currently considering a mural of the DNA molecular structure outside the department on the wall. If you are interested in supporting with it, please let Mr Stonier know.

Private Public Spaces

BERLIN_OCT2009_117, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

It might be interesting to set up a simple audio visual installation using old TVs and headphones that students can listen to privately within public spaces. Departments could then work on audio visual displays for students.

SImilarly, a permanent monitor connected to the internet could be placed in the south wing foyer for visitors to view films by students that are stored online.

External Links

Fortismere, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

Displays can be a great place to let students know about international links and connections with schools in other countries. If setting up a visit abroad, try to build in a time before and after to set up a display and involve students in the process.

Unusual Spaces

Fortismere, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

Try looking around the school to see if there are any unusual, redundant spaces that might be a good place to set up a display. If you find somewhere exciting but difficult to access, try talking to the site staff or teachers that have a strong practical understanding about installation and construction methods.

Colour Coordination

Fortismere, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

Although we often assume good displays are colourful and therefore exciting, it is possible to create a visually over-complex environment and distract from the content being displayed.

Thinking about simple colour combinations such as warm or cool colours or neutral tones can help to create a more harmonious background. This is especially important if your display imagery/work is also colourful.

Display in Maths

A good example of display for learning that demonstrates a mathematical skill which teachers can refer to in the lesson and students can refer to when necessary to aid learning and progression.
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History of Maths Timeline

The maths department have produced a timeline display that looks at the history of maths across different cultures. It is on display in south wing foyer.

Body Sculptures in Science Block

Year 10 Art students have relocated their sculptures from north wing to the science block, where 'The Body' will be the theme for an on-going display.

Mr Wood's Levelled Walls

DfL Archive a video by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

In this video, Mr Wood from the Science department explains how he uses his walls to create a display of differentiated levels of work for students to understand which level they are working at.

For subjects that can be assessed incrementally this way, this method of display can help a student to measure their current level and clearly understand how to improve their grade.

Digital Display

A digital display would work well for the Creative Arts faculty and other subjects such as Modern Languages that wish to publish audio visual recordings. It is possible to programme shows to appear at certain times like a TV channel. At BETT last year, I came across a number of providers that supply schools and they seemed to have reasonable prices. The only main issue would be school security....

Audio broadcasting

The Music department is very keen to start broadcasting music at break times and lunchtimes that are live or have been pre-recorded. At the moment, there is no intercom system connected throughout the school but there might be the possibility of broadcasting through iTunes or VLC player as explained in this online tutorial:

http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Vlc-to-Stream-Audio-and-Video-to-Multiple-Computers-on-Your-Network-Using-Multicast

If anyone has any other ideas, please let us know.

Keywords to develop literacy skills

A common strategy in Food Technology lessons is to use keywords on the classroom walls as a reference board for when describing characteristics of food. It is a dynamic form of display that supports students' use of more complex vocabulary.