Classroom Aesthetics and their Impact

Webinar Details

What significance do learning environments have for students? The spaces where students learn communicate values long before instruction begins. Classroom layouts, displays, routines, and everyday design choices influence how students experience belonging, participation, care, and learning, making aesthetics an important but often overlooked aspect of education.

This webinar introduces the field of everyday aesthetics and explores how ordinary features of classroom environments shape social, moral, and educational experiences. Participants will examine how learning spaces communicate ideas about democracy, imagination, and community while considering the ethical implications of classroom design. Educators will leave with practical strategies for intentionally shaping learning environments that support student engagement, reflection, and inclusive classroom communities.

Instructor: Sarah Hardman, Columbia University Teachers College