Colors not to wear in the classroom.
October 18, 2010 3:27 PM Subscribe
Is there data supporting the claim that wearing the color red is a bad choice for teachers in the sense that it negatively affects a student's attention, comfort level, etc.? I know a college professor that never wears red because of this. If so, are there other colors good-or-bad to wear? Can I blame my 6360 angstrom magenta cable-knit sweater on the Is-This-Gonna-Be-On-The-Test day I've been having in my class? Would a brown leg bandanna make my students own the quadratic formula?
Best answer: Not clothing related, but perhaps this data point would interest you:
Because red pens are closely associated with error-marking and poor performance, the use of red pens when correcting student work can activate these concepts. People using red pens to complete a word-stem task completed more words related to errors and poor performance than did people using black pens (Study 1), suggesting relatively greater accessibility of these concepts. Moreover, people using red pens to correct essays marked more errors (Study 2) and awarded lower grades (Study 3) than people using blue pens. Thus, despite teachers' efforts to free themselves from extraneous influences when grading, the very act of picking up a red pen can bias their evaluations.
Source
posted by rancidchickn at 3:43 PM on October 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
Because red pens are closely associated with error-marking and poor performance, the use of red pens when correcting student work can activate these concepts. People using red pens to complete a word-stem task completed more words related to errors and poor performance than did people using black pens (Study 1), suggesting relatively greater accessibility of these concepts. Moreover, people using red pens to correct essays marked more errors (Study 2) and awarded lower grades (Study 3) than people using blue pens. Thus, despite teachers' efforts to free themselves from extraneous influences when grading, the very act of picking up a red pen can bias their evaluations.
Source
posted by rancidchickn at 3:43 PM on October 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
I had read somewhere that at some schools correcting pencils never done with red since that gave off a bad sign! But in my view, a D is a D, no matter what the color it is written in...
I had a colleague would mark up essays all in green ink, but for no other reason than that he liked that color...had nothing to do with notions of sensitivity.
Why not have students write in Green rather than in blue or black?
posted by Postroad at 3:54 PM on October 18, 2010
I had a colleague would mark up essays all in green ink, but for no other reason than that he liked that color...had nothing to do with notions of sensitivity.
Why not have students write in Green rather than in blue or black?
posted by Postroad at 3:54 PM on October 18, 2010
Best answer: I'd be surprised if there was any hard classroom-based evidence for that theory, and I'd be more surprised if it had practically significant effects (it would be such a small variation in a classroom full of causal variables). But these designers give credence to the theory:
"Red Physiological Effect: Red has been shown to increase blood pressure and stimulate the adrenal glands. The stimulation of the adrenals glands helps us become strong and increases our stamina. Pink, a lighter shade of red, helps muscles relax.
Psychological Effect: While red has proven to be a color of vitality and ambition it has been shown to be associated with anger. Sometimes red can be useful in dispelling negative thoughts, but it can also make one irritable. Pink has the opposite effect of red. Pink induces feelings of calm, protection, warmth and nurture. This color can be used to lessen irritation and aggression as it is connected with feelings of love. Red is sometimes associated with sexuality, whereas pink is associated with unselfish love."
I would imagine if these things are true, red walls would have a much more salient effect than the teacher's outfit.
posted by parkerjackson at 4:10 PM on October 18, 2010
"Red Physiological Effect: Red has been shown to increase blood pressure and stimulate the adrenal glands. The stimulation of the adrenals glands helps us become strong and increases our stamina. Pink, a lighter shade of red, helps muscles relax.
Psychological Effect: While red has proven to be a color of vitality and ambition it has been shown to be associated with anger. Sometimes red can be useful in dispelling negative thoughts, but it can also make one irritable. Pink has the opposite effect of red. Pink induces feelings of calm, protection, warmth and nurture. This color can be used to lessen irritation and aggression as it is connected with feelings of love. Red is sometimes associated with sexuality, whereas pink is associated with unselfish love."
I would imagine if these things are true, red walls would have a much more salient effect than the teacher's outfit.
posted by parkerjackson at 4:10 PM on October 18, 2010
I teach high school and our school colors are red and white. The whole building is red and white, and most teachers wear our school pride shirts at least once a week on game days. After 10 years there, I can honestly say I've never noticed a difference. Weather, on the other hand, has a huge impact.
posted by SamanthaK at 9:00 PM on October 18, 2010
posted by SamanthaK at 9:00 PM on October 18, 2010
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posted by klausman at 3:30 PM on October 18, 2010