It started as an ordinary classroom… desks allocated with name tags; desk inspections to assert a regime of fastidious tidiness and formality - predominantly invoking boredom!
Then the real journey started…
During the last term and a half, I have been tinkering with my classroom space along with my delivery.
The name tags were ripped off. Tables that cater for four to six students were brought in, initially with two pushed together... however they were quickly pulled apart to create smaller groups. A coffee table appeared near the mat area. Two 'caves' were created. One enclosed in the corner, with the back of the bookshelf providing the cocoon it is ensconced in. The other more open to the 'elements' the classroom throws up, yet still an independent workspace to enable students to secrete themselves.
Books were removed from inside the remaining desks, upon threat of the lids being nailed down with possessions inside. These have been placed in boxes on open shelves, bringing it's own bones of contention.
Some students felt a wave of panic as the structure and routine appeared to diminish… Others appeared to thrive amid the freedom, choosing to work alongside peers they would not usually align themselves with. Students became empowered by the ability to opt for an independent workspace where they could not be bothered or interrupted by others.
Some things are working. Some are not.
This blog is my way of documenting and reflecting on the successes and the pitfalls I meet along the way.
In the beginning, this was about my classroom environment.
Now, a few months down the track… It's about:
- The transition from an analogue education to the digital age.
- Getting bang for my buck out of my classroom environment.
- Creating an environment that is effective and provocative for my students.
- Extending myself and my students.
- Stepping out of my comfort zone and giving things a crack!
It's not about the destination, but the journey...
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