With Ernesto Rodriguez of Nature in the Classroom
What is Attention Restoration Theory? Why do fractals in nature calm us and improve our focus? How can educators incorporate images of nature into lessons? Nature in the Classroom (NitC) installs crystal-clear images of trees (often with the sun peeking through the branches) on classroom ceilings, much to the benefit of educators and learners. NitC’s Founder and Executive Director Ernesto Rodriguez joined us to unpack the reams of research in medicine that support the use of natural images for improving mental health, while explaining the exciting research NitC is about to undertake with Dr. Richard Taylor from the University of Oregon. Ernesto also shared multiple anecdotes about the effectiveness of showing nature images to learners and those recovering from illnesses.
Guest (from www.natureintheclassroom.org):
Retired educator and school psychologist, Ernesto Rodriguez provided psychological services for US State Department Schools in Colombia and Saudi Arabia. He founded Ernesto Rodriguez Photography in 1988, commercial and fine art photography. His work is in the Curator’s Collection at MoMA, New York and on exhibit in the Smithsonian. In 2002 Ernesto founded Sereneview®, to bring the science of viewing calming nature landscapes to the hospital patient bedside. Sereneview® curtains are installed in over 3,000 hospitals in the US, Europe, and Australia. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Nature In The Classroom®, a non-profit that applies nature art and science to create classroom environments that support teachers and students academically and emotionally.
*Episode edited by M. Angel Goñi Avila
Episode 22: Teaching about a circular economy
Episode 21: Indigenous perspectives in inquiry-based learning
Episode 20: Mobile gaming and augmented reality outdoors
Episode 19: Getting students out of their comfort zones
Episode 18: Inclusion and accessibility in the outdoors
Episode 17: Stone Soup to prepare youths for a sustainable world
Episode 16: Using an app to connect to outdoor spaces
Episode 15: A climate solutions game (and Woolly Mammoths!)
Episode 14: Filling gaps in climate ed. according to teens
Episode 13: Talking cli-fi with Guy
Episode 12: Puppetry, upcycling, and a puppet chat!
Episode 11: Boosting the longevity and relevance of school and botanical gardens
Episode 10: Teaching enviro. ed. using comic books
Episode 09: Facilitating children's outdoor play
Episode 08: Climate- and culture-friendly ecotourism
Episode 07: The role of non-profits in the climate change response
Episode 06: Using art and storytelling to protect marine life
Episode 05: Responding to environmental racism
Episode 04: A personal intersection of faith and science
Episode 03: Outdoor learning during a time of physical distancing
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