USING COLOR IN THE CLASSROOM
By: Amanda Tull and Jessica WingardRegion VIII Center for Assistive Technology
WHY SHOULD YOU USE COLOR?THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES
It affects people everyday Color is an “adjuster” to our emotions Color affects us physiologically Color and Disability Color as Assistive Technology Color and Computer Technology Color in Our Schools
Judith Sweeny, Colorful Teaching
COLOR AND EMOTIONS
Jealousy – the green monsterSadness and Distress – having the blues or black moodAnger – seeing red
Our mood is affected everyday by colors that are used on signs, labels, packaging, room colors, lighting, and clothing colors.
Advertisers use color to evoke emotional responses in people.
Judith Sweeny, Colorful Teaching
COLOR AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES
heart rate blood pressure
respiration
Certain colors have been known to change body function
Judith Sweeny, Colorful Teaching
COLOR AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES
Red Yellow
Magenta Lime Green
Stimulating
Colors
Calming ColorsGreenBlue
BrownGreyBlack
Judith Sweeny, Colorful Teaching
COLOR AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES
Antonio F. Torrice suggests that certain colors influence certain body systems:
Red: motor skill activities
Orange: circulatory system
Yellow: cardiopulmonary
Green: speech activity
Blue: eyes, ears, nose
Violet: non-verbal activity
COLOR AND DISABILITIES
Preference Tendencies for Students with Disabilities
IMPROVING ATTENTION Problem: Lack of attention Suggestion : Most vivid colors to aid stimulation
Problem: Confuse similar words Suggestion: Try various colors
Problem: Uneven arousal state ( tend to drift) Suggestion: Stimulate with bright colors to focus
attention
Don Johnston –Using Colors to Meet Special Needs
LACK OF SUSTAINED ATTENTION
In most cases white is seen as a neutral background color and other colors, even when used in smaller proportion, are the colors that convey the most meaning in a design. Use white to signify cleanliness or purity or softness.
In most cases white is seen as a neutral background color and other colors, even when used in smaller proportion, are the colors that convey the most meaning in a design. Use white to signify cleanliness or purity or softness.
BEHAVIORAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMSAutism/PPD
Suggestion: Try various colors
Recommended: Light Blue or green background
Behavior problems Suggestion: various, try dark backgrounds
Developmental Delays Suggestion: Red background. Usually prefer red on screen ( either text or background)
Don Johnston –Using Colors to Meet Special Needs
LEARNING DISABLEDDyslexia
Suggestions: Dark Colors
Try Black text on dark blue background
Learning DisabilitySuggestions: Often blues and greens
Don Johnston –Using Colors to Meet Special Needs
COLOR PERCEPTIONRetina based visual impairments
Suggestions: Sharp contrast with vibrant colors.
Can depend on type of retinal damage
Try yellow text on red background with bright blue cursor.
OR yellow text on blue background with red cursor
Don Johnston –Using Colors to Meet Special Needs
COLOR AS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGYLOW TECH IDEAS
•Colored notebook papers•Colored inks,•Highlighters•Highlighting tape•Colored copy paper•Colored light bulbs•Reading Helpers•Report covers•Colored index dividers
COLOR AS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGYHIGH TECH IDEAS
Change color contrast (background and text)
-Control Panel (PC) and Universal Access Mac
Software to change text /background color & cursor
- Word, WriteOutloud, Adobe Acrobat, Inspiration, Kurzweil, Zoom text, CueLine reader and many more.
COLOR CODING AND AAC Language/Grammar based Color Coding
Parts of Speech Color Examples
Verbs Pink Drink, open, get
Descriptors (adj. and adverbs)
Blue Pretty, slowly
Prepositions Green In, On, Under
Nouns Yellow Girl, car, truck
Miscellaneous WH wordsExclamationsNegationsPronouns
Orange Who, What, WhenOh, WowNo, Don’t I, he, they, you
Caroline Musselwhite (1999) and the Irlen Institute
COLOR CODING AND AACColor Coding Communication Symbols: Try printing symbols on different colored paper. Make different background colors It is recommended that the symbol and word have a
white background and remaining have color Use parts of speech color coding for lessons
Printing on colored paper: In a study, students with autism had more accurate
scanning and symbol recognition when their symbols were printed on yellow paper rather than the standard white.
Caroline Musselwhite (1999) and the Irlen Institute
DO YOU HAVE A COLOR
PREFERENCE?
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT COLOR
We are going to take a quiz to see what you have learned about color in this presentation!!!
WEBSITES Color Meaning-
-http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/color/a/symbolism.htm
Color Psychology - http://www.infoplease.com/spot/colors1.html
Irlen Institute - http://irlen.com/index.php Dyslexia article -http://www.dyslexiacure.com/ Info on See it Right - http://www.seeitright.com/ Don Johnston handout on color -
http://www.donjohnston.com/research/articles/using_colors.html