I was thrilled to have the chance to think about how I would reimagine my own classroom this week! I have had so many ideas in the past year of things that I would love to do, and having the opportunity to really think through what would be best for my students was awesome.
My building was built in 1930 and was the former high school but now only houses our 8th grade. There were only 2 science classrooms built into the original design so my room is a repurposed English classroom. The room itself has 12 science lab desks that fit 2 students each. There is also a large demonstration desk at the front, which my own desk is a part of. This demonstration desk causes one of the largest problems, as my blackboard and SmartBoard are right behind it, making it the “front” of the room. I prefer to be able to move around my room so this can be a major challenge. The desks also pose a challenge, as they are large and difficult to move. I frequently will get to my classroom extra early in order to rearrange the desks so that students can work in groups or we can split the room up for activities.
My building was built in 1930 and was the former high school but now only houses our 8th grade. There were only 2 science classrooms built into the original design so my room is a repurposed English classroom. The room itself has 12 science lab desks that fit 2 students each. There is also a large demonstration desk at the front, which my own desk is a part of. This demonstration desk causes one of the largest problems, as my blackboard and SmartBoard are right behind it, making it the “front” of the room. I prefer to be able to move around my room so this can be a major challenge. The desks also pose a challenge, as they are large and difficult to move. I frequently will get to my classroom extra early in order to rearrange the desks so that students can work in groups or we can split the room up for activities.
The first thing that I would change in my classroom is giving students movable desks. Research has shown the importance of individualized learning for students, including increased understanding of material (Dolenc & Abersek, 2015). Desks that move would allow me to reconfigure students quickly into learning groups that would be tailored to their skill level. As students worked, we could rework the groups quickly for those students who may need extra help or those who understood the material. Moveable and personal desks also add to the “complexity” of a classroom, which has been shown to have an effect on student learning (Barrett, Zhang, Moffat, and Kobbacy, 2013). As students move around the room they have the opportunity to explore new spaces, rather than be stuck in one unmovable position (The Third Teacher). I would also move the demonstration area to the back corner of the room. This would serve three purposes. The first is that it would free up space; the long desk at the front takes up a whole wall, while a corner desk would allow for the same surface area but not take up as significant of a portion of my room. The corner would also serve as a gathering space and allow for students to gather together to observe demonstrations. Students would no longer simply sit at their desks to observe, with those in the back having a diminished view. Finally, moving this desk and placing it in the corner would remove the idea that it is the “front” of the room. This would reduce the feeling that the teacher is the giver of the information while the student receives the information; a style synonymous with the industrial revolution and that does not foster creativity (Peterson, 2010). In the back near the demonstration station I would have lab tables set up for students to use collaboratively. These would be standing desks so they would take up less space and allow students to move around easily. |
In order for these changes to be made, there would need to be a significant investment. The school board as well as my own building administrators would need to partake in the remodel, as it would require demolition and rebuilding a fixed part of the classroom (the demonstration table). The movable desks would cost approximately $6000 based on estimates from School Outfitters. The new tall lab tables would cost approximately $2000 based on estimates from National Public Seating. Finally, I would estimate moving the demonstration table would cost approximately $10,000. The most efficient way for this revision to take place would be over the summer when there are no students. This type of redesign would take a significant amount of time and work to implement.
While this is my dream classroom, many of these ideas can be used in my current classroom with a bit of extra work. It is a large redesign, however if I could only have one thing, I would truly love to have moveable desks for my students.
While this is my dream classroom, many of these ideas can be used in my current classroom with a bit of extra work. It is a large redesign, however if I could only have one thing, I would truly love to have moveable desks for my students.
References
Barrett, P., Zhang, Y., Moffat, J., & Kobbacy, K. (2013). A holistic, multi-level analysis identifying the impact of classroom design on on pupils' learning. Building and Environment, 59, 678-689. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.09.016
Dolenc,K. & Abersek, B. (2015). TECH8 intelligent and adaptive e-learningsystem: Integration into Technology and Science classrooms in lower secondary schools. Computers & Education, 82. 354-365.
Peterson, A. (2010). The third teacher: 79 ways you can use design to transform teaching & learning. New York: Abrams.
The Third Teacher. (2010). TTT Ideas Flash Cards. Retrieved from http://goo.gl/v25rRA
Barrett, P., Zhang, Y., Moffat, J., & Kobbacy, K. (2013). A holistic, multi-level analysis identifying the impact of classroom design on on pupils' learning. Building and Environment, 59, 678-689. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.09.016
Dolenc,K. & Abersek, B. (2015). TECH8 intelligent and adaptive e-learningsystem: Integration into Technology and Science classrooms in lower secondary schools. Computers & Education, 82. 354-365.
Peterson, A. (2010). The third teacher: 79 ways you can use design to transform teaching & learning. New York: Abrams.
The Third Teacher. (2010). TTT Ideas Flash Cards. Retrieved from http://goo.gl/v25rRA