Perception is an interpretation of the surrounding world in human consciousness, resulting from the processing of signals coming from photosensitive eye cells. Colour perception is a process that allows us to see different colours as a specific object. Colour psychology gives colours a role in evoking emotions in people, and the perception of our lives.

The topic was processed according to my own learning scenario (SDC2022, Scientix Competition 1: STEM Activities – teaching materials). In this learning scenario, students explored and analysed the visual and psychological perception of colours. Students participated in an interactive game to test their visual perception, and by showing feelings and emotions in colour, participated in a small study of the psychological perception of colour. The total duration of all activities was about 90 minutes, and was attended by students of the third and fourth grade of secondary vocational school who are studying for the profession of wood technician designer.

Plan and sequence of activities – Figure 1.

Creative colour wheel design – Students are divided into groups (5-6 students). Each group was given wooden crayons of different colours and shades (package of 24 crayons). Students created a creative “Colour Wheel” (Figure 2.) by stacking 24 wooden crayons according to their colour and shaded and the rules of colour positioning within the Colour Wheel.

Colour perception – Using the interactive game “Color method”, the students explored their personal perception of color. According to personal color perception, students chose the color that best matched the suggested color offered by the computer. For each category – basic colors, saturation, triadic, tetradic and analogy, each player has 5 attempts. At the end of the game, the result of the game was visible on the screen. The results of the game were entered into a whole-class data collection form. (Figure 3.)

Colour psychology – The students painted the walls of different rooms using the vizualizercolour application. Students according to instructions, painted the walls of selected rooms, expressed emotions with colours and showed how they experience which colour in the described situation. The results of painting the walls: (Figure 4.-6.)

Instruction for painting:

1. Choose the room you want and paint:
   1. paint the walls with warm colours
   2. paint the walls of the same room with cold colours
2. Choose a picture of the bedroom: paint the walls using colours that associate you with relaxation, rest, serenity, tranquility, comfort, enjoyment
3. Choose a picture of the living room: for the walls, use colours that will send a message of elegance, prestige, sophistication, expensiveness, exclusivity of the living room
4. Choose a picture of the kitchen, use colours that will try to send a message of freshness, harmony with nature, comfort
5. Choose a room of the youth room, upload a photo and paint the walls of the room according to your own preferences

Analysis and results interpretation

Students analysed and interpret answers obtained through questionnaire via discussions (analysed the average value of results, calculated deviations from the average, determined ones position in relation to the average grade result, determined colours that most students experience warm, determined colours that most students experience cold, determined colours and shades that students find personally preferable, determined colours that “send a message” of exclusivity and expensiveness, determined colours and shades that “send a message” of link to the nature)

Feedback

• Individual feedback based on points scored in the interactive game
• Interpretation of statistically processed dana
• Interpretation of emoticons by which students expressed satisfaction with the activities carried out

About the author:

Ernestina Tropša, graduated from the Faculty of Forestry in Zagreb. She works as a teacher in a vocational secondary school and teaches wood technology subjects.

Interpretation of emoticons by which students expressed satisfaction with the activities carried out.

The pictures are the author’s own – (Figure 1-6) – Attribution CC-BY