Examining the aesthetic elements in the design of the educational space of preschool centers based on the guidelines of the country's welfare organization and matching with the existing standards

Dissertation for Master's Degree in Pre-Primary Education

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine the aesthetic elements in the design of the educational environment of preschool centers based on the instructions of the country's welfare organization and to adapt to the existing standards. The design of the educational environment is very important in order to create interest and create the necessary opportunities for children to perform social activities and get to know the environment.

The research method of this research is a descriptive method. is A simple random sampling method was used to collect information, and 20 kindergartens were randomly selected from 68 kindergartens located in District 5 of Tehran. Also, a researcher-made questionnaire and a checklist were used to collect information. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that there is no conformity between the aesthetic elements in preschool centers and the standards of the welfare organization, and the use of aesthetic elements in the design of the educational space of preschool centers is at a weak level. Therefore, in order to reach the standards of the welfare organization, there is a need for fundamental modification and change in these centers.

Keyword: aesthetic elements. Educational space. Preschool centers. 

Man's destiny has been intertwined with his environment since childhood. Man learns to master the space through a long learning period that covers his entire childhood. The way this learning takes place is based on his inner balance. For this reason, the first experiences of the child are very important in this regard. These experiences are obtained in the living environment and educational environment prepared for the child. The meaning of educational space is not only a geometric area, but an active and effective space that plays an important role in the formation of a person's personality. Space is not a normal environment but a living and dynamic psychological reality. This space should not impose itself on a person, but should be shaped according to his personality (Barshadt, 2016, p. 1).

A child who enters preschool centers. What should he see at first sight? Except for an attractive and inviting environment with all kinds of play equipment that makes the child easily and calmly eliminate the distance from the parents? A dry, soulless and formal environment that is not only not attractive and pleasant for the child, but also does not establish the necessary communication with him due to improper organization, and worse, creates anxiety and boredom in him, will definitely not succeed in keeping the child in that educational environment. In a fertile environment where positive and constructive reflections are given to the child from all corners, the cornerstone of the child's adaptive and creative personality is laid in it. Educational spaces and environments are one of the basic parts of the learning process, and educators and children at any age are affected by it. Education systems should pay attention to the comprehensive development of human capabilities and capacities (Rezaei, 2018, p. 9). Considering that humans are influenced by two factors, genetics and the environment, and providing suitable environmental conditions can have a significant impact on the development of children's capabilities and talents. The first environment in which a child is educated after home is the kindergarten environment. When a place is built, the first question is what characteristics should this place have in order to adequately serve its users and increase the quality of their interaction with the environment (Kroner, Khoshnois translation, 2015, p. 2).

More importantly, the growth process of a child in the early years of life is affected by several factors, which not only include the methods of child rearing and the attitude of the family and community, but also include the structural characteristics of the child's activity space. Activity, as the main factor of child's growth and learning, is a process that, in relation to the child's space and environment, causes his all-round growth. Kindergarten design as a space for children's activities is very important and should have favorable conditions for children's physical, mental, emotional and social development (Barshadat, 2016, p. 1).

One of the general goals of preschool is to help emotional growth, increase the sense of self-confidence, understand environmental conditions and strengthen the understanding of beauty.Also, the cultivation of artistic taste and aesthetics, which includes the expression and description of the beauty of the living environment and the creation of works of art, is mentioned as one of the goals of the programs (Organization of Educational Research and Planning, 2019, p. 10). Therefore, the presence of aesthetic components in children's educational environment is a factor for developing the sense of understanding beauty. 

In the current research, which of the design components and architectural details are attractive to children, and what elements children in kindergarten consider to be beautiful by themselves. Also, the aesthetic elements of the educational space should be determined and the conformity of the aesthetic elements in pre-primary centers with the existing standards should be checked. Finally, the current research can be used to increase children's aesthetic understanding, create an attractive and desirable environment, and make them interested in the educational environment. Despite the importance of these issues and their great impact on the child and childhood, very little research has been done in this field in the country, so it is hoped that by using the results of this research, a step will be taken to improve and develop and apply aesthetic elements in the design of the educational space of preschool centers. Childhood has been considered a crucial time. Robert Avon, a sociologist, believed that a person's personality is influenced by environmental factors, and therefore he considered a rich educational environment at an early age to determine an effective and productive personality (Mafidi, 2012, p. 3). The importance and necessity of the current research can be examined in several areas.

1.  The importance of the living environment during childhood:

The main elements and foundations of an adult's personality depend on how his childhood was, a person acquires most of his life habits during childhood and it is almost at this stage that he learns the quality of adapting to the environment (Attaran, 1368, p. 18). Therefore, preparing the right environment for children is one of the ways of their education.

2. The attention of Islam and the Qur'an to beauty:

Researching the issue of beauty from the perspective of Islam, considering that Islam has accepted beauty within the framework of the realm of nature and the creations of human thought and hand and reasonable and supernatural ideals, is not only useful but also a necessary research work that deals with the context of human life and is considered one of the most fundamental issues of knowing art from the perspective of Islam (Jaafari, 1377, p. 3).

A) Almighty God is also described with beauty and beauty: O Allah, I am the most beautiful, and all of Your beauty is beautiful. Verse 16.

B) Your glory and beauty are among the verses that encourage us humans to understand Your glory and beauty. He says:

First of all, look at the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. Al-Araf verse 185 c) Beauty, whether in the exhibition of nature or the product of human thought and taste, is popular and desirable from the point of view of Islam, and all beauty is rooted in God. 3. The attention and emphasis of many philosophers and psychologists on the beauty and aesthetic understanding of children: According to Maslow's classification of needs, beauty is one of the basic human needs. 1. Physical 2. Safety 3. Love and belonging 4. Dignity and respect 5. Self-fulfillment 6. Understanding and understanding 7. Beauty 58) Heraclius was the first philosopher who can find aesthetics in his philosophy (Rezaei, 1388, p. 17). Plato paid attention to the beauty of nature and believes that bringing these beauties together can provide a favorable environment for the development of everyone, especially children (Rezaei, 1388, p. 21).

·         Chekhov: "The sense of aesthetics in humans knows no boundaries (Pertoy, 1352, p. 97).

·        Alexander Blake: "In its aesthetic perception, the objective object draws our attention, regardless of its ability to satisfy a special need (Pertoy, 1352, p. 183).

·        Beauty according to Hegel In a word, it is the mediator of the receptive sense and the rational matter (Hegel, translated by Masoumi, 2013, p. 6).

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