Does the configuration of the classroom depend on the subject? And how much should the teacher’s preference apply?
I agree that teaching with a lot of control is easy, but it’s definitely not the most effective method. Likewise, planning for every situation is impractical and ineffective. I think our most important attribute should be flexibility, and I believe that the most effective teacher is the teacher than can best adapt to any situation their students throw at them. While we make lesson plans for our students, we cannot possibly know how well the lesson will be processed. There are hundreds of things that can go “wrong” during a class period, but it is how we respond to these moments that determines how effective of a teacher we will be.
From the very beginning of this course we’ve been analyzing how students can (in some sense) be in control of their own learning. Self-discovery was a central tenet to Piaget’s theories, and since we’ve been analyzing how we can apply this in the classroom. Group work, “lab” like activities, and actually handing over control to the students for presentations and leadership positions are all ways we can let students take control of their own learning, under our supervision of course.
I think the arrangement of the classroom should reflect both the teacher's preference and the set up that is most beneficial to the students learning. The arrangement should also reflect the subject/activity that is happening in the class. Some previous responses have mentioned how teachers would arrange the desks in groups if there was a group project happening. For a lecture, perhaps it'd be most beneficial to have all the desks facing forward (so students don't have to turn to face the board/the teacher). In elementary school, our desks were arranged in rows a lot (with all the desks facing forward). Sometimes, the teacher would arrange the desks in clusters (with about 5 or 6 desks per cluster). That way, the teacher could walk around to each cluster and help the students out. Furthermore, the room was managed in a way because the teacher would say "cluster one can line up at the door" or something. When the desks were arranged in rows, it would be a bit difficult for the teacher to get to the students.
ReplyDeleteIf a teacher is more comfortable with a certain configuration (and that configuration works for the classroom), then it should be used. Some teachers prefer the students in groups while others prefer rows (so they can see the faces of the students all the time and know what the students are doing). I just remember that with clusters, some students would have their backs to the teacher and so the teacher couldn't keep a full eye on what they were doing!
Yes, I think that the way the classroom is set up should correlate o what is being taught in the classroom. For instance if there is group work going on it would be difficult for people to work together when if the desks are separated. But at the same time I think teachers need to set up the classroom based on what works best for the children during the school day.The teacher has to consider which students can sit next to each other and which ones can't and how the class will run smoothly.
ReplyDeleteSometimes subject-geared arrangements are helpful, like in a discussion setting, circular seating is the optimal. I think that teacher's preference shouldn't really matter, because if the students aren't learning as well as they could, then the teacher could be doing better.
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