Episode 46: Attention restoration theory

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