Monday 17 August 2015

Creating a Classroom Culture for Learning. The L Shape - Classroom Table Layout

The L Shape (Secondary/MYP)
 
Often overlooked but vital to learning in the classroom, the layout of student tables can help create a  positive learning culture.  Unfortunately, table layout is sometimes organised to suit the needs of the teacher rather than the students - with the focus on control rather than learning.  It is still common to find classroom tables organised in the same fashion as those over half a century ago; in rows.  



Whilst the use of rows has its purpose, especially when expecting students to complete individual assessments in examination conditions, it is therwise an inflexible layout that serves mostly to ensure classroom control.  Some teachers may argue that to engage students in group work, you can simply ask students to turn around, but with such layouts, my worry is that: collaborative opportunities for students are the exception rather than the norm; the longer the transition between activities, the increased likelihood for students to lose focus; and some students will have their back to the teacher throughout the activity.

It is this teacher’s opinion that the classroom layout usually reflects the teaching norm in a classroom.  Therefore, If teachers are assigned their own classroom, a worthwhile exercise for school leaders is to walk through the school during the first week of term to check out the layout chosen by teachers.  Of course, sometimes the shape and/or size of the room may limit the range of possibilities, but the classroom layout may be an early indicator as to the type of teaching and learning experience that is most likely to occur on a regular basis.  Additionally, as a training exercise for trainee teachers, requesting trainees to walk through the school and report back on the various classroom layouts seen, with feedback as to the purpose of the layout, is an excellent introductory exercise that prompts an interesting discussion amongst the trainees.  

The need for a standard classroom table layout design which serves the students best interests whilst appeasing some teachers’ needs for using the classroom as a control mechanism is essential  This is especially vital in school environments where it is the teacher rather than the student that moves from classroom to classroom.  If we were to suppose that teaching strategies will inevitably conform to suit the classroom design rather than the other way around, then a multifunctional and simple layout is necessary.   Neither the horseshoe nor the square table layout are as effective as the L shape for meeting most needs in the classroom.



The L shape allows students to engage in individual, paired and group work without ever having to change position allowing for slick transitions between activities.  Students are facing the teacher at all times helping to appease those teachers who wish to use the layout for control.  If we accept that transferable skills such as communication and collaboration are vital to a future, global workforce, then such a layout serves to promote these skills.  

The L shape is an effective de-facto table layout for most classrooms.

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