°ÄÃÅÅܹ·ÂÛ̳

Teaching Video

Teachers, Try This: Improve Student Engagement Through Design

Designing classroom materials to meet the needs of students with learning differences can be beneficial for all students.
By Jaclyn Borowski — April 6, 2023 6:00
video1688931020.00 01 05 24.Still002 BS
Email Copy URL

Teachers wear so many hats, including taking on the role of a designer as they create worksheets, presentations, and other classroom materials for students.

According to Lauren Heil, a former teacher turned learning experience designer at FriEd Technology in Colorado, teachers are great at thinking about the mood they’d like to convey in their materials. But one area where there’s room for improvement is in thinking about how their font decisions can impact the user experience of students and with it, the engagement of their class.

Here, Heil explains how teachers should think about font, and how they can incorporate those concepts into their daily design work. She recently launched a new Google Workspace add-on that assists with accessibility and inclusion in classroom materials, learn more about it .

Jaclyn Borowski is the director of photography and videography for °ÄÃÅÅܹ·ÂÛ̳.

Video

School & District Management Video Everything You Need to Know About Electric School Buses
While electric school bus usage is growing nationally, it's not without its challenges. Here's a look at the state of transportation.
Zum electric buses are parked before a news conference announcing the Oakland Unified School District as being the first major school district in the country to use 100% electric school buses at the Zum/OUSD bus yard in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.
Zum electric buses are parked before a news conference announcing the Oakland Unified School District as being the first major school district in the country to use 100% electric school buses at the Zum/OUSD bus yard in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024.
Jeff Chiu/AP
Reading & Literacy Video Teaching Content and Supporting Reading Through Disciplinary Literacy
Get up to speed on what disciplinary literacy is and how teachers can start thinking about it—no matter their subject.
School & District Management Video How This Principal Manages Student Behavior—Without Too Many Rules
Principal Tracie Anderson Swilley brought students on board to make big changes to her school’s culture.
Recruitment & Retention Video Recruiting and Retaining STEM Teachers: A Former White House Adviser's Take
A retired teacher and former White House policy adviser has some ideas for schools leaders looking to recruit and retain in STEM.
Teacher Nathalie Roy, left, talks to her Glasgow Middle School students about using papyrus and learning about writing with smelly squid ink on the papyrus in Baton Rouge, La., on Aug. 23, 2019. This unlikely elective course open to students at Glasgow Middle School in Baton Rouge connects traditional classical studies with STEM.
Teacher Nathalie Roy, left, talks to her Glasgow Middle School students about using papyrus and learning about writing with smelly squid ink on the papyrus in Baton Rouge, La., on Aug. 23, 2019. This unlikely elective course open to students at Glasgow Middle School in Baton Rouge connects traditional classical studies with STEM.
Bill Feig/The Advocate via AP