Classroom Reboot

Challenge
By: Austin Sack, Matt Doddemeade,
Tori Bowman
&
Gabriella Gaetano

The Traditional Classroom

When we walked around the school and looked at what the teacher had the
classroom set up as. We saw
-

Rows
Desks divided in half
Few classrooms were table groups

We noticed that all of the classroom designs are surrounding the teachers. The
desks were set up in a way that all the students could focus on the teacher. But
shouldnt the desks be designed in a way to let students collaborate and not just
focus on the teachers?

The Future of classrooms

If students were able to design their own classroom, the entire class would be
different than what we know a classroom to be today.
-Desks not only will be more comfortable for both the students and the teachers
but the entire classroom would be set up in a way to encourage collaborative
learning between all the students.
-When our classrooms are set up in a newer way the learning from the students
is not all rely on the teachers. Students will be pushed to work together and
learn from each other.
- 21st century learning, if we are trying to encourage the 4 Cs of learning why
arent our classroom designed to help us incorporate these skills? What would
this kind of learning look like?

The New & Improved Classroom

This is a Design of the new
Classroom we have new tables and
chairs for prime collaboration. We
decided to keep the design the same
from what our english class is today
because we felt that this set up was
already good for learning but we
thought that comffer furniture would
help the learning process for more
interactive class.

Pricing
Black Chair =$34.99
We need 32 Chair

M
Desks and Chairs Total
$1,320+$1,120=$2,440

Total =$35x32=$1,120
The Desks/Chairs We currently have
Cost$80
Have 32 Desks/Chairs
Total = $80x32=$2,560
Blue Desk =$164.98
We need 8 Desks
Total=$165x8=$1,320

Old Desks/Chairs Total $2,560

New Desks/Chairs Total $2,440
You save $120

How is this design effective?

This design helps with Focus and Collaboration and because

the chairs are not attached to the desks we can move to other
tables without needing to move people around to find a new
desks. The tables help with the ability to spread out and work
either individual or group work they are also light that way we
can move them to any design/landscape we desire the room to
look like for the best learning for all of us. If teams/parents
come in the room for a team meeting/informal the room
accommodates for all of them.

This design in all classes for all kinds of

learners?
-With our new design of our classroom gives the option to all students and
teachers in all differents subjects and grade levels.
- There are three main types of learners
- Auditory, would rather listen to things being explained than reading it.
- Visual, would rather watch a demonstration or look at graphics.
- Kinesthetic, would rather have a hands on learning experience.

What is the best way to help all kinds of

learners

AT

According to the studies from Jessica L. Bucholz, University of West Georgia and Julie L. Sheffler,
Atlantic University from The Electronic Journal for Inclusive Education, The type of classroom
environment that a teacher creates and encourages can either increase or decrease a students ability
to learn and feel comfortable as a member of the class. The classroom environment should do as much
to foster cooperation and acceptance as the teaching methods that the teacher uses.
http://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1102&context=ejie

Research from the Department of Psychology at the University of California shows:

-Students learn more efficiently when they are more comfortable
-Students are more comfortable their bodies are both mentally and physically prepared to learn and stay more
involved
-Students quickly lose interest when they are uncomfortable and forced to focus
-From ages 13-46 and older were uncomfortable in their chairs/seating arrangements

Best ways to design the classroom

According to the studies of Scholastic, Classroom Organization: The physical Environment,

The physical layout reflects your teaching style. If you want students to collaborate in small groups,
for example, organize them around tables or clusters of desks. For frequent whole-group discussions,
try a circle or U-shaped desk configuration. If you plan on an individualized, self-paced curriculum, you
might set up learning stations.

In our survey of students and

teachers
The Majority of
Students:

The Majority of
Teachers:

-Didnt like the layout of their

classrooms

-Were okay with the layout of their

classroom

-Prefered group seating and lots of

collaboration

-Prefered circle tables and interactive

groups

-Believed rearranging the class would

improve their learning

-Believed rearranging the class would

improve their teaching

Counter Arguments

Why would you want to put a classroom into groups?

-

Putting classrooms into groups would benefit the teacher and the student,
The students and the teachers would learn how to communicate better and
learn from each other.

How can a collaborated class make you learn more efficiently?

-

The students can ask questions to their peers, and the teacher can go to
each group. Also there are more questions asked when the students are in
groups.

How could a teacher get all the students attention if they're all in groups?
-

If the teachers can get a whole class in the traditional layout to focus when
theyre all talking they can get a whole classroom to focus.

Pros and Cons of the Traditional Layout

G
Some might think that there are no pros or no cons to a traditional layout but
here are a few.
Pros

Cons

Teacher has total view of each student

Students can't collaborate amongst

themselves

Teacher has a huge work space

Limited space for movement or teacher

won't allow students to move

Students are aligned so they can be by

themselves during testing times.

Students can ask questions only to the few

people around them.

The desks are cheap

Uncomfortable seating

Arrangements For the Room

room
ssss

These different arrangements can make the class

room more functional for all differents preferences
based on the teachers opinion.