INSIGHT STATEMENTS
- It is all about the learning.
- The new space is designed to benefit our students.
- Comfort is a high priority for students.
- Furniture needs to have the flexibility to meet a variety of student needs.
- The design needs to accommodate many different needs of both students and the teacher.
- A management plan needs to be in place prior to implementation.
- Work space needs to be scaled to the available space in the classroom.
- Technology needs to be compatible with and support the design.
- Just keep swimming! You won' t know all the possibilities for your design until you take it for a drive.
Driving Question
How might we consider all students' needs in the design process and still maintain the focus on improving learning?
How might we consider all students' needs in the design process and still maintain the focus on improving learning?
Classroom 4 the Future Design Notes Mark Eberhard; St. Clair High School
November 01, 2016
At least 4 tables (preferably 6) in the front part of the room with a chemical resistant surface so they can double as lab stations - this would provide 2-3 lab stations in front half of the room + the 6 permanent stations in the back of the room
Utilizing at least the front permanent lab stations as student work areas outside of lab time; part of student choice for “regular” seating
Remove at least part of the black counter in back corner of the lab to add at least 2 collaboration stations
Removing the current teacher station - making the teaching station a mobile work station
Reduce current tables (16 total) and chairs (32) in the front half of the room to at least 10-12 tables and 20-24 chairs
NOTE: I find that students working in teams of 3-4 students works best; the vast majority of our work is done in teams of this size (2 is too small for a diversity of opinions and productive dialogue; more than 4 often leads to some students being unproductive) - at times we do group into 6-8 students when do peer review/student feedback sessions - table configurations need to take this into account
Realized through this process that I am really only using half the room on most days - on days we are working at the desks at least half the space in the room (back lab stations) are not being used and on days we use the lab stations the front half of the room remains unused - looking for a design that utilizes a greater percentage of the workable space in the room
Overall seating needs to be comfortable, mobile, swivel, at least some height adjustable, some with foot rests -- the seating needs to accommodate regular table height, lab table height, and possibly high top table height -- so chairs need to play multiple roles
Charging stations - ability to plug in devices came up frequently and often
Most likely out of the scope of the project, but would LOVE to replace the current Smartboard and projector with a project that uses the whiteboard directly for projecting and makes the use of the white board more practical
November 01, 2016
At least 4 tables (preferably 6) in the front part of the room with a chemical resistant surface so they can double as lab stations - this would provide 2-3 lab stations in front half of the room + the 6 permanent stations in the back of the room
- These chemical resistance tables should be height adjustable - would allow them to be used in a variety of ways - such as a lab supply station - a specific task station (like weighing, centrifuging, etc.)
- Seating for these tables also height adjustable for flexibility and have ability to swivel
Utilizing at least the front permanent lab stations as student work areas outside of lab time; part of student choice for “regular” seating
- Would allow us to reduce the number of tables in the front of the room to create more room for traffic flow
- Would suggest seating with backs for the front lab station; also swivel - the permanent lab station is designed for 12 seats (six on each side) at the front lab station
- Also this seating should be height adjustable and swivel - would allow seating to be used at lab stations, regular tables, and high top tables if we use them for collaboration stations
- Would suggest stool style seating for the back lab table; students felt that area was too far away if do something together as a class at the front of the room - watching short video, working at the board, etc.
Remove at least part of the black counter in back corner of the lab to add at least 2 collaboration stations
- Half round tables with seating for at least 4 and/or high top tables with seating for at least 4 - students felt would be good location for teamwork, but thought it was too far away to be effective seating if working as a whole class
- A shared monitor station at these collaboration stations; are at least the ability to add them to the furniture in the future - place a group can watch short video, work on virtual labs, work through computer interactives, collaborate on joint projects and presentations
- Possibly some wall mounted whiteboards replacing current bulletin board at an appropriate height OR portable whiteboard to separate areas and providing writing space
- Possibly wall mounted shelving for storing student lab projects and work
- Seating for these stations could be pulled from other areas in the room - if chose tall tables they could also be standing work stations at times
Removing the current teacher station - making the teaching station a mobile work station
- Leaving some storage space for organizing materials, student papers, resources, texts
- Could possibly put one of the collaboration stations in this area OR a teacher-student group collaboration space in this area
Reduce current tables (16 total) and chairs (32) in the front half of the room to at least 10-12 tables and 20-24 chairs
- Table shapes do not all have to match
- .For tables, not used for lab (see above) - I am a fan of the tables with unique shapes that can be configured in multiple ways - ok if they sit 3-6 people instead of just 2
- Open to 4 or 5 different configurations to help distinguish work areas
- Use of color to distinguish areas also a good idea
- At least half the tables height adjustable for flexible use
- If tables can fold up and be moved to the side that is a plus, but not an absolute
- Lost seating replaced by permanent lab station seating
- ALL tables and seating need to have mobility and easy transition a high priority
NOTE: I find that students working in teams of 3-4 students works best; the vast majority of our work is done in teams of this size (2 is too small for a diversity of opinions and productive dialogue; more than 4 often leads to some students being unproductive) - at times we do group into 6-8 students when do peer review/student feedback sessions - table configurations need to take this into account
Realized through this process that I am really only using half the room on most days - on days we are working at the desks at least half the space in the room (back lab stations) are not being used and on days we use the lab stations the front half of the room remains unused - looking for a design that utilizes a greater percentage of the workable space in the room
Overall seating needs to be comfortable, mobile, swivel, at least some height adjustable, some with foot rests -- the seating needs to accommodate regular table height, lab table height, and possibly high top table height -- so chairs need to play multiple roles
- Students had a strong preference for soft seating, not sure how practical that will be in a lab room - are there coverings for soft surfaces that are stain resistant?
- Personally prefer a color palate that is from nature (greens, blues, etc. in nature tones)
Charging stations - ability to plug in devices came up frequently and often
Most likely out of the scope of the project, but would LOVE to replace the current Smartboard and projector with a project that uses the whiteboard directly for projecting and makes the use of the white board more practical