Classroom Digital #LearningSpace: the students have spoken

My 21st century digital learning space has been in place for a couple of months now.  As the year is winding down, I am already starting to make plans in my mind for next year. I need to reflect on what is currently in my classroom, and ask myself the question: Where do I go from here?

Data.

As educators, we need to use data to back up decisions that we make about our pedagogy and classroom practices.  So, I turned to the experts: my students.

This morning, I put a QR code on the projector screen, and without any instructions, my class got out the iPads and laptops, scanned the code, and completed the survey.

Want to take a look at the survey questions?  Click HERE.


                                                                 or use the QR code?

So, what did I find out?  The results surprised me.  Above all else, I was surprised by how positive they were. Why? Well, with the amount of pushback throughout the year, and the strong resistance to change, I was expecting more negative or ambiguous feedback on the survey.

The results are in. 

Here is what my intermediate (Grade 7/8) students had to say:

Question #1.

Classroom learning configurations.

Using our Ontario Level System (Level 1 is low, Level 4 is high), the students rated how they liked to learn in the classroom space.  Students were asked to rank each, not put them in order, so a student could choose level 3 for each, for example.

•  "CAVE" is a quiet, independent work space, which in our classroom is in the back room, at an individual computer desk with rolly chair, or in a cubicle outside the door.
• "WATERING HOLE" is working in  small group, either at the purple collaboration tables, the standing height tables with stools, or at the cafe tables
• "CAMPFIRE" is whole class discussions. Usually we pull our chairs into a whole class circle for this
• MOUNTAIN TOP is when someone is at the front, presenting, lecturing or demonstrating.  Usually, this is the students and guest speakers.  I try to limit the amount of whole class lecture-style instruction and make it minimal each day.

Question #2.

Seating plan or no seating plan?

Seating plans. 80 % of students don't want them.  Interestingly, the 20% of students who preferred that the teacher create the seating plan are the students who have more difficulty in social situations. Currently, there is NO seating plan in my classroom. Perhaps next year I can find a way to incorporate a seating plan for some, while allowing others the choice. Something to ponder further, for sure.

Question #3.

What are the things that you like most about our learning space?

This was an open response question, and I got a wide variety of answers.

"It is good to focus on work."

"There is a lot of space to work."

"I like how we have the standing desks and a reading area at the back of the room."

"I like how everything gets to be a group collaboration because of the big seating tables we have." 

 "Many choices of where you want to sit. Different seating arrangements." 

Question #4.

What do you like least about our learning space?

Most responses to this question were "nothing". That's encouraging.  The rest of the feedback was about the small cubby area where I have been having them put their binders at the end of the day.  Because it was a mid-year transition from individual desks to our new learning space, many have had a hard time adapting to organizing their belongings and keeping items in their locker or in a shared shelf space.

Next year, they will be be using this system from the beginning so hopefully there will be better management of  their "stuff". Also, we will be using GAFE from the first day, so NO MORE ENORMOUS BINDERS!!!

Question #5.

What are some changes you would like to see in our learning space?

By overwhelming majority, the answer was "none". A few requests for a couch (if only I had a larger room) and a designated art area was a wonderful suggestion (I already had it in the works for next year).

Question #6.

How has the new classroom changed the way you learn at school?

I got THE BEST responses to this question. Many students responded positively about iPads, laptops, and the easy access to information. The ability to collaborate was also tops in their books.

"It's more interactive than before."

"I don't always work with the same people each time. I work with different people at times to times since we're allowed to sit where ever we want and having the iPads are way easier than using paper all the time (sic)"

"Learning is actually interesting with how we can project our iPad images on the SmartBoards. It makes it more interesting and fun." 

"It made it more fun and easy to collaborate with different people." 

And,

"It's improved my marks by getting input by people at the group tables. It's also fun working together."

Now, in my classroom, there is very little emphasis on marks. We talk about learning - and focus on feedback. I'm assuming that marks=learning in this student's mind - so that's a win if that's the case.

I love working with students in my new classroom learning space. What's holding you back? Start planning for next year to transform the learning in your classroom!

 Read more about the transformation in my classroom this year:

Classroom Design: A Reading Room
21st Century Intermediate Learning Space: A Pilot Project
21st Century Learning Space: No seating plan required
21st Century Digital Learning Space: My Classroom Makeover

21st Century Digital Learning Space: My Classroom Makeover

I never thought that it would actually come to fruition.  All year long, I have been dreaming, hoping and planning for an updated learning space for my intermediate Grade 7/8 classroom.

Well, dreams can come true; my classroom has arrived!

Cafe table seating

Standing height work tables with stools

Floor seating areas with rolling benches and rugs. We have had to move to two different floor areas rather than just the one that we started with, in order to accommodate more students.

No more teacher desk! I use a cafe table for conferencing with students and to set my laptop. Mostly, I move around the room conferring with students.

Two projection areas; I use apple TV on one of them, and the second is an Epson Brightlink Interactive projector.

Supply shelves with art, math and other materials always at the ready for students (and student mailboxes on top)

The classroom isn't totally complete and organized the way that I would like it yet, and I still have many improvements that I want to make, but this is a start.

The technology that I use is a combination of 15 iPad minis, about 5 SEA laptops (designated for Special Education students), and laptops that we bring in from the computer lab next door as needed.  Next year the plan is to add about 10 laptops to the classroom's collection of technology.

Here are some of the key things that I have noticed:

• students work more quietly because they are close together with their collaboration groups and partners
• students are actively engaged and move around as needed
• "rocking" on chairs has been eliminated because students simply move around as needed when they become restless
• the most popular work space is THE FLOOR (amazing what cheap, $15 rugs can do!!)
• collaboration is easy and instant (a lot of time is saved on transitions because students are so used to transitioning to different work spaces throughout every class)
• conferencing with students and providing feedback is easy because I go and stand beside them at their workspace or pull up a seat at the collaboration tables
• students are spread out around the room so it is more private for working, collaborating and conferencing

I have had many people ask for my resources for the furniture.  I'm not sure that I'm 100% happy with everything, but it is at least a place to start.  I am hoping to write another post soon to give the pros and cons for what I currently have in place in the classroom.

Assiginack Intermediate 21st Century Classroom

 *prices are approximated as of November 2014

Technology

Interactive Whiteboard Projector-$2000

* interactive projector will need a whiteboard

15 Ipads, apple tv, cables

3 tech tubs for ipads

 Headphones with mics, 3.5 mm pins for ipads

https://www.cdw.ca/shop/products/Logitech-Stereo-Headset-H150-headset/2574878.aspx

 bluetooth Keyboards  for ipads

Collaborative Work Spaces-

Brodart Adjustable height café tables 4 @$184= $736

Brodart Adjustable  swizzle café stools 8@ $112=$896

Carr Maclean Mity bilt tables plum 4@$625= $2500

Ikea Standing height tables 2@$259=$518

Ikea Stool seating 8@$60= $480

Ikea Kallax benches/storage 2@$70=$140

Ikea casters 6@ $10=$60

Ikea Kallax storage $149

Staples Literature organizer $238

2 iKea Clearance rugs @ $15 each

assorted throw pillows

Henry’s Green Screen $99

Henry’s iPad mount for tripod $35

21st Century Learning Space: no seating plan required

When was the last time that you were a student?

At my last teacher P.D. session, I reflected on the learning that was happening in the room. I felt like I was back in high school all over again.

Hard chairs.
Sitting all day.
Directed through every activity.
No choice as to how I learned or what I learned.
Sitting in the same spot. Not with my friends.

Ok, it wasn't actually that bad. But, by the end of the day I was sore, tired, cranky, and didn't feel like I learned the best that I could have.

My own classroom has moved toward being a 21st century learning space. We no longer have a seating plan. Students move and sit where they need to for each learning activity. As I sit here and reflect, the behaviour issues during class time have decreased. It isn't perfect, by any stretch, and I have a couple of students who need to be redirected. They still have an assigned seat because they can't manage themselves. I have had to give them an assigned space because that better meets their learning needs. But they are no longer distracting others from learning and they are more productive and on-task this way.

We don't have all of our new furniture in place, and are in a transition stage. We have some traditional desks in the room still, in groups. We do have a carpet area, benches and standing height cafe tables and stools. By making the changes gradually it seems to have made for an easier transition.







My own children testing out our new classroom cafe tables after school.













The students now enter my class each day and choose where to sit. I have noticed that they tend to sit in the same spot at the beginning of each period. Then, once I set them off on an activity, they move to where they feel they need to.

What I have learned from this:

• intermediate students usually prefer to work on the floor
• they like to work in the most uncomfortable looking configurations if it means that they get to be close with their friends
• sitting at tall cafe tables makes them sit more upright, speak more quietly, and collaborate more closely
• it's easier to give feedback as I move around and mingle with the students at their different seating spaces, and it's a more relaxed atmosphere
• sometimes it's noisy
• there is more learning going on than what I see at first glance (thank goodness, because some days it looks and sounds like recess time)
• standing-height spaces allows for the best on-task collaboration
• having no front-of-the-room cuts down on the teacher-directed learning
• wireless projectors, Apple TV and 2 projection surfaces are AWESOME
• chairs and regular desks lead to slouching, laying on the desk, and more disengagement
• when they are tired or disengaged they move back to the desks and slump

Once I have the rest of my furniture in place, I am planning to get feedback from my students. We did a pre-survey a while ago about our classroom, before I made changes.  I am very curious as to what their thoughts are about the new learning space. I do feel that some of the students prefer to be told where to sit. Is this a product of years of seating plans in school, so it's a comfort thing? A confidence issue? Or is it personal learning style?

I have just learned that I am going to get a new student on Monday. I am a bit worried that he/she will be completely shell-shocked, if they come from a more traditional classroom. My classroom is noisy, in constant motion, and to an outsider it likely looks like sheer chaos (and admittedly, some days it is).

Perhaps a transition plan will be necessary. #somethingIneverthoughtabout

21st Century Intermediate Classroom Makeover - Pilot Project #rdsb21c

It's official.
My classroom is going to be a pilot project in the Rainbow District School Board for a 21st Century Intermediate Classroom.  I am absolutely over-the-moon.

Stage 1: In the beginning - read about where the classroom started.

Stage 2: A reading space - my students created a reading "room" for the class

Stage 3: Coming soon….

The plan is to create a variety of areas for students to maximize our cave, watering hole, campfire and mountain top learning configurations. I am going to bring in cafe tables, standing-height rectangular tables with stools, tables for seated collaboration, floor seating and, of course, technology.  Best of all…. NO MORE DESKS!
[caption width="500" align="alignnone"] Lumisource adjustable acrylic Cafe table[/caption]
[caption width="250" align="alignnone"] Lumisource Swizzle cafe stools[/caption]

 

I know there are going to be many bumps and challenges along the way, but I am excited and rarin' to go.

Stay tuned over the next few months as my learning space undergoes a transformation.

 

Student learning spaces...from cave to mountaintop

 

Overhead in my class: "Let's find a watering hole and get to work on this."

Introducing learning spaces to my class was far simpler than I could have ever imagined. In the past, I have always had many conversations and created anchor charts with my class about rules for meeting in small groups, large groups, presentations and assessments.

This year, I introduced these terms, and had a student create artwork to depict them, along with the norms for each. I framed the posters, to show that they are important (and beautiful!). Framing lends credibility and importance to items posted in the classroom. I don't know why, exactly, but it just makes everything more special.

Now, since the posting of our norms, it is as simple as saying the word, and it happens. Furniture gets moved, bodies get organized, learning begins.

The Cave (independent work, assessment, reflection)

• not disturbing others


• being on task


• working quietly

*Currently, this looks like students in our reading nook, corners of the room on the floor, at computer workstations and desks

 

The Watering Hole (collaborative group work)

• working as a team


• listening to others


• everyone contributes

*Currently, this looks like groups of desks shoved together and bodies crowded around. We have 2 standing desks that groups will crowd around as well

The Campfire (whole class in a circle, talking circles, Brags and Drags, Class Meets)

• respecting classmates


• responding to questions


• active listening


• don't speak when someone else is speaking

*Currently, this is a circle of chairs with desks shoved aside to make space

 

The Mountain Top (presentations)

• respectful audience


• asking questions


• giving feedback

*Currently, this involves students moving chairs and facing either the smart board on one wall or the long chalkboard on another wall (BANSHO math)

Currently, I am still dreaming of creating a proper 21st century learning space. When we work in our school library, which has lots of space, carpet, two projector areas, group tables and individual work stations, it is so easy to implement each of the above formations. It looks like a Ministry of Education video with the students at work, engaged and learning.

In the classroom, with our 20th century desks, chairs and cold, tiled floors, it isn't as smooth for transitions, nor as comfortable. Also, I have noticed that it isn't as quiet. There is something about trying to have large adolescent bodies meet around groups of desks that seems to make the noise level sky-rocket.

But when our 20th century-designed classroom catches up with us, we will be ready!

 

Classroom design: a reading room.

"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." Winston Churchill

If you believe those words, then I must be absolute perfection.  My desk has moved three times in the past 2 days in my classroom. And I'm still not happy, but it's a start.

I began to make changes beyond simple desk formations this week in my classroom.  I shoved my clunky teacher desk along the wall, and created an area for student books to be shelved within easy reach. My student librarians, two girls who applied for the job at the beginning of the year, jumped in to help and soon had a beautiful book display.

Then my husband returned from his trip "down south" with  the items from my Ikea list. (Ikea is a 6 hour drive one-way from here on the Island - so it's a big deal and usually involves a long shopping list.) A cheap floor rug and some clearance thrown pillows. Actually, I got two floor rugs, but we don't have any floor space in the class for the other one right now, so it is rolled up in a corner, just waiting...

Since I was spending money out of my own pocket, and since kids have a way of staining and destroying items without even trying, I didn't want to spend too much.  I simply looked online for the cheapest options I could find. Plus, I didn't know if the students would think it was "cool" enough and actually want to use them. Was I wrong.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Ikea Hulsig Rug - $14.99[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Ikea Krakris Cushion - $1.99 x 8[/caption]

It's funny how  you can never really predict how students will react to change. Especially teens.

The next thing I knew, my librarians were asking to move more shelves and a giant storage cart around. They were SO excited. When they finished and were marvelling at their handiwork, I went over to inspect.



A "reading room" had been built into our classroom. (sorry for the poor quality 4s iPhone pics - I need to bring a better camera to school)

This morning, I brought in a plant from home that had been a Christmas gift from one of the students and I placed it in the reading area. The class started to buzz and a boy came up and said that they had a plant at home that was dying and maybe he could bring it in to see if we could save it and have it in our classroom. Another student came over and said that we needed to hire for another job - plant caretaking.

The reading room is the hot spot, and students have been piling in with books and pillows, discussing their book club books and planning out geography inquiries.

Two students spent recess break inside, poring over furniture catalogs and sketching out classroom design ideas on grid paper. I can't believe how passionate they were becoming over table and stool styles. One of them is now dreaming of becoming an interior designer. The other is plotting ways that we can finance the ideas.

My teacher desk got moved again, to the front of the classroom, against the wall. It currently has an organizer shelf piled on it.

I have a feeling it isn't finished moving yet.  Each move it has inched closer and closer to the doorway. Its days are numbered.

More changes are coming. Just that much closer to being perfect...

21c Classroom Design - The Dream

I have a dream.  I want my classroom to be a place where students are excited to come each day because it is inviting. I want it to be a place where I want to go each day because it meets the needs of my students as 21st century learners. I feel that classrooms should feel like you are walking into a cozy coffee shop, or the "Central Perk" of Friends (showing my age now!).

This info graphic that I put together gives a brief introduction into what I think my 21st century learning space should be (but it keeps in mind existing spaces and tiny budget realities).

21st Century Classroom

Now here is a school authority that has dreamed big (and obviously has managed to find big $$$) and they have created the ultimate learning space.  Check out the Great Prairie Education Agency website.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4XRwxsxlek[/embed]

Great Prairie 21C classroom

All I can say is WOW.