The team from St. Joesphs College wanted to create a room within their school where students could take time out of a busy stressful day and relax, called the Zen Zone. They wanted to enhance the concentration and comfort of students within the classroom to allowed every student to get the most out of their learning.
They chose this issue as they feel that highlighting the everyday problems that students face in school such as being comfortable and dealing with their stress in a safe and positive way, is a very important issue that can sometimes be overlooked. They hope that by shedding some light on this subject it will make things easier for many students. They want other schools to look at what they've done and apply it to their school.
The Action
To begin the team focussed on little things within their school building that can really affect a students learning and are overlooked. Each member of the group was given a task.
They identified 3 areas of the school that they wanted to improve. The first area they decided upon was the area where many students wait before going to meet the guidance counsellor as they felt it was quite unkempt. They worked with their interior designer to improve the room and create a more positive atmosphere.
There are 2 other rooms the team identified were to be made into Zen Zones. They were painted and carpeted. Students will be able to avail of these rooms to de-stress and take a few minutes break. They can be of use to anyone, but particularly for autistic students or students with anxiety or students who are just feeling the stress.
During the course of their project they cooperated with many different people and businesses including their Principal, their YSI guide and Liffey Sound Radio. They contacted Vistaprint and Maritone Press to get their quotes on how much printing booklets and posters will cost. They also collaborated with an app called Take Care. They took part in a marketing workshop with Ulster Bank to develop both long and short term goals for their project Classroom Comfort.
The Impact
The Classroom Comfort project had a huge, positive impact on students St. Josephs.
In the furture the team plan to continue to develop the Zen Zones in their school. They also plan to re-decorate their mentors classroom and take a survey of how these changes have positively affected the students. They then plan on posting these results on their social media pages and showing others how simple changes in the classroom can change people's perspectives on learning.
Their long term goals include developing Classroom Comfort groups in several other schools, beginning in Lucan, then later Dublin and All of Ireland. Their short term goals is to get Classroom Comfort to exhibit at the Young Scientist next year in the Industry hall and other major events for secondary schools in Ireland. After seeing the positive impact their work has had in their own school, and how it only continues to grow and progress, they are sure other schools will come on board and hopefully in a few years, all schools in Ireland will have Classroom Comfort Councils. They have plans to set up training days for other schools and have an award system based on their work.
Login
