Classroom Design and Challenge

Written by: Marcia Kish with DSD Professional Development
marcia@dsdpdcoaching.com

"Change the Space to Change their Mindset" Marcia Kish 

Tweet: "Change your space to change their mindset" @dsdpd Classroom design for #blended & #personalizedlearning classrooms http://bit.ly/dsdpddc

Once a classroom teacher decides to change the learning space, the mindset of the learner changes.  Flexible seating is one way to change the learning space.  What does flexible seating mean?  Different learning environments where students have the ability to work in a mini lesson with the teacher, by themselves, in a small group, standing up, sitting down, and a space to explore/create.  To create flexible learning areas, a school and/or classroom teacher does not need to buy expense furniture to develop flexible learning environments he/she needs the ability to group the students in different learning areas.  Some of the best learning spaces have come from free or found furniture.  

How can we change learning mindset?  The first thing a teacher needs to do is get rid of the rows.  If the classroom is set up in rows facing the front of the classroom, the learner automatically assumes that they will be watching a slide show while the teacher delivers the information.  The learner will take notes, sit quietly, and raise their hand when called upon.  The photo below is a classic case of setting up a classroom in rows. Even though the school purchased high end flexible chairs the teacher has still aligned them into direct instruction grouping facing the front of the classroom. Take a moment to examine the photo and look at the tape marks on the floor.    The tape marks indicate how far the student can travel while sitting in their chairs.  

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Generating Flexible Classroom Environments 

I want to take a moment and restate that, "Changing the space does not mean spending thousands of dollars on furniture".   The video below showcases how middle school teachers transformed a classroom with traditional desk into flexible learning spaces.  When we entered the classroom all of the desk were facing forward but with team work and group discussion, we developed learning spaces that would meet the needs of a blended learning classroom.  What are the learning spaces need for a blended learning classroom?  In designing a  blended learning environment, a classroom should have at least four designated areas for students to work and learn.  

• Mini Lesson with the teacher
• Independent work location 
• Digital content area
• 4C's plus 1 collaboration environment 

Creativity and Use of Space

When designing your space, be creative and think outside of the box.  What once was five gallon buckets can now become stools and storage.  What was once a plank of wood, can now become a digital content bar.  What was once T.V. trays can now be an independent work area.  There is no right or wrong way to set up the classroom as long as the students have the ability to learn in flexible seating and learning options.  The video below showcases a 1st grade classroom.  See if you can spot at least four different learning areas.  

Steps to change your space

Do you want to change your classroom to a flexible learning environment?  Then follow the steps below and before you know it, you will have a space where students can meet in a mini lesson, work independently, explore digital content, and work collaboratively while being creative, communicating, using critical thinking skills,  and becoming globally connected 

• Step 1:  Take a photo of your current classroom space
• Step 2: Leave your room
• Step 3: Examine your classroom with a colleague or learning coach.  Look for items that are needed in the classroom all of the time.  Is your desk taking up too much space?  What needs to be cleaned up or moved in order to generate flexible seating
• Step 4:  Draw up your dream flexible learning environment.  Use paper and pencil or an online design tool or app.  Make sure to include a mini lesson area, an independent work environment, a place for digital content (I love setting up digital content bars), and a place for students to collaborate and work together. 
• Step 5: Generate a list of items you wish to purchase or build for your classroom.  Start a Donor's Choose campaign. 
• Step 6:  Go back into your classroom
• Step 7: Before moving anything, stop and envision the space.  Can you see your students learning together?  Can you see you teaching a mini lesson instead of whole group? Can you see the mindset change?  
  
• Step 8:  Start to move the furniture, clean up the room, and store items that are not needed on a daily basis
  
• Step 9:  Teach in this environment for a few weeks and then reevaluate the classroom design.  Is it working?  What needs to move?  If there is room for tweaking, then go up back up to Step 1 and repeat the process.    

Classroom Design Challenge

The DSD Professional Development Team will be giving away a $100 dollar gift card to IKEA to one lucky classroom teacher.  In order to win, send us a photo of your current classroom and tell us how you would like to change your learning environment.  On September 25th, we will pick one lucky winner to receive the $100 dollars and a visit from the DSD PD team to help them redesign their classroom.  Send your photos and classroom design ideas to dsdpd​@dsdpdcoaching.com by September 24th.