21st Century Classroom Design
The twenty-first century classroom is one that should be infused with technology and yet still open to other types of creativity. Though technology has changed some components of the classroom there still should be structure and order to learning. Thus, this is the twenty-first century classroom.
When you first walk into our room, you notice how bright and cheerful it is. It is a warm inviting classroom that is spacious with corners devoted to the different subjects that are taught. These corners also have a specific color designated for each specific subject. To the left is the learning center area. Here there would be a learning center that correlates with a featured lesson of the week. For example, the class is now studying and growing plants therefore the learning center is about photosynthesis. Next to the learning center area is the portable laptop cabinet. Underneath the storage of the laptops there are two colored printers for the children to print their various activities that they worked on at the laptops. Unless the growing plants, the sink and the fish aquarium do not give enough evidence what the next area of the classroom is, open up one of the multiple green cabinets and explore the various science materials and experiments. This is the perfect place for the science area because of the light that shines from the windows that run along the left wall of the room. In addition to these windows, we have three skylights and a bay window that gives natural light for our blue reading corner. The reading corner is a comfortable and relaxing place to read because of the beanbags and many available books to read. There is also a rocking chair for the teacher to sit in while reading to the class. The secluded feel of the part of the room makes it ideal for accelerated reading, tutoring purposes and various reading groups. Another feature of the reading corner is the comfortable bay window with the cushioned window seats. Though this corner is designated to reading, at the bay window is a telescope used to observe weather patterns.
To assist the teacher in classroom management, we have included a restroom in the back right corner. Next to the restroom is the math corner. Featured in this corner are three large round tables with chairs that are good for working in small groups and using manipulatives. These tables are also useful for group collaboration that encourages critical thinking skills in any subject. Another feature of the math corner are the large cabinets used for storing the manipulatives and other supplies. Above the cabinets is a bulletin board used for the problem of the week. The color of this corner is yellow!
Separating the student and teacher work areas and the learning center areas is a large mounted television and DVD player. This television can be viewed from almost every area of the classroom. This source of technology can be used to watch educational videos which are stored in a cupboard underneath the television. There is also a stereo, CD’s and various educational DVDs. One neat aspect of this television is that it can be hooked up to the teacher’s computer to show videos and other resources from the internet.
Next to the television is a white board used for teaching purposes. Above the white board is a large pull-down projector screen. The projector is mounted in the center of the room behind the student’s desks. There is also an overhead on a cart that is stored next to the teacher’s desk. Both of these can be used for projecting worksheets, power points, spreadsheets, digital pictures and various activities.
The students are seated at individual desks facing the white board. These desks are aligned two rows of desks in groups of five. Students are seated at individual desks so they can have their own personal space and for the storage of their own supplies. This also provides privacy for test-taking. It is also easy to arrange the class into groups.
The teacher’s desk in this classroom is equipped with a computer and a printer for lesson planning, recording grades, researching and for class projects that can be projected. Next to the desk is a file cabinet used for keeping student records, tests, quizzes and other supplies. There is also a bulletin board behind the desk that has a different theme each month and for activities and announcements.
Our classroom is nearly completed with only component remaining. Next to the door each student is individually assigned a divided cubby. One side is for their book bags and the other side for paper work such as homework and newsletters and extra supplies. Along the side of the cubbies are pegs for the student’s coats and other personal belongings such as lunch bags.
As you can see from the design of our classroom, we have merged the traditional classroom with a learner-active, technology infused classroom. The teacher in this environment not only teaches in lecture form but is able to direct group learning and critical thinking projects because of the different technology and hands on features of the room. This classroom is conducive for interpersonal and intrapersonal learners.
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