I was recently asked, "How would you design a
classroom for today?" Great
question! I would take it a step further; how should we design our classrooms for tomorrow? We need to think creatively as budgets continue to shrink and learning
expectations (along with technology needing to be an "accelerator" to learning) increases.
Last year I attended the MACUL15 conference where I had the good fortune to attend a session hosted by @KleinErin @ShawnCRubin @thomascmurray on Personalized Instruction for ALL Learners and Create a Brain-Friendly, Blended Learning Space. The information provided by the presenters inspired many and generated great questions that we should use to guide our actions regarding modern learning. Some questions to consider:
Last year I attended the MACUL15 conference where I had the good fortune to attend a session hosted by @KleinErin @ShawnCRubin @thomascmurray on Personalized Instruction for ALL Learners and Create a Brain-Friendly, Blended Learning Space. The information provided by the presenters inspired many and generated great questions that we should use to guide our actions regarding modern learning. Some questions to consider:
- How much has changed in past 100 years? Why do classrooms still look the same today as they did 100 years ago?
- Where do you want to go to school?
- In what type of world will our kids live?
- How can we enhance what we already do well?
- What motivates our students?
- Can we make learning memorable?
- “Kids are instant!” How can we prepare curriculum and instruction that matches their learning style?
- How can we personalize instruction?
- What digital learning tools are needed to enhance personalized instruction and student collaboration?
- How can we restructure our day?
- What are the learning outcomes we want for our students? What technology is to be the “accelerator” to those learning outcomes?
- What should we “put up” in our classrooms? Should we ditch the desks?
- How should we arrange the layout in the classroom? What does good design look like?
- Should we create “Maker Spaces” within our classrooms and schools?
- Are we Future Ready?
- What is best for kids?
What will education look like in the near and extended future? My hope is that these questions will continue to drive our educational beliefs and decision-making about modern learning. I look forward to using these questions as a guide to enhance personalized instruction for all learners while creating a blended learning space that is brain-friendly. What exciting times in education!
Please share how you would design a classroom for tomorrow!
Enjoy teaching and learning together!
“We should strive to be the teacher that we want our own children to have!” @KleinErin
These are great questions, Keith! I'm working with a group of teachers this spring (and probably into summer) on PD about student-centered classrooms. We are focused on 3 ideas: 1) What does the physical space look like? 2) What is the student doing in a SC classroom? & 3) What is the teacher doing in a SC classroom? I'm going to share your post with the group! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteJennifer