Importance of Design in Classrooms

"It's okay if you can't use it the first time...but it's not okay if you have to do the same thing a second time." -Don Norman concerning good design models.

 Photo from http://sofiesmom.com/finding-perfect-school-child-traditional-vs-progressive-vs-montessori/

This quote has really got me thinking about design and how it applies to education.  Basically, the design of traditional classrooms are flawed.  Think about classrooms.  Traditional classrooms have the same setup.  Teachers have a board in front of the class, with desks for students to sit in to take notes and listen to whatever information the teach has to convey to the students.  Ideally, the setup of the classroom is in place so that students can see the teacher in front of the class and take notes from whatever is written in the white board.  Unfortunately, that is not what happens.  Students can easily be distracted, often wander around the classroom, and may not even able to see what is written on the board.  To go even further, the desk are poorly designed!  We want students to be able to sit in their desks comfortably enough so that learning can occur.  The reality is that students fall asleep on their desks or find it easy to leave their desks.  There are also no places to put bags or backpacks, which can be a safety issue.  As teachers, we want to prevent these things from happening and even though discipline is a solution, good design can alleviate problems as well.  I suggest classrooms be setup in a circular formation to encourage a collaborative workspace while still giving the teacher influence over the tone of the learning environment.  Student desk should be remodeled as well to encourage students to be engaged in learning.  A bookstand to allow learning to easily see their reading in front of them as well as project their voices when reading will greatly improve the learning dynamic in the classroom.  I would like the board to be mobile so the teacher can make the notes and information more visible for students in the back.  Finally, a slot underneath the desk to allow students to place their materials in would keep the aisles clear and safe for students to move in.  These suggestions will create personal and meaningful experiences for the teacher and the student and create a more engaging and effective learning environment.

IMPORTANT AND NEW EMERGING TECH TO LOOK AT
Nearpad-A program that creates an interactive presentation experience for students.
Pros
it works on tablets and mobile phones
its user friendly
keeps students accountable of their learning-provides agency
Cons
needs internet connection
cost money
everyone needs access to a computer, tablet, or mobile phone to use all the functions.
http://nearpod.com/

Screen chomp- A easy screencast program to help student collaborate and learn material
Pros
free
userfriendly
simplistic
collaborative workspace
easy to network with other people

Cons
need internet access
board can be small
need dropbox to import media

http://www.techsmith.com/labs.html