In this episode, the Unpacking Education podcast team discusses what to consider when setting up the physical space in your classroom in order to maximize learning and positively impact students. The conversation spans such topics as how to arrange the furniture in the room, what to put on the walls, how to engage students in the process, and how to match the space to instructional goals.
Physical environments that impede learning hurt teachers as well as students.
David Thornburg, author of From the Campfire to the Holodeck: Creating Engaging and Powerful 21st Century Learning Environments
Resources
The following resources are available from AVID and on AVID Open Access to explore related topics in more depth:
- Accelerate Learning by Making Connections: Build Trust Through Relationships, Community, and Connection (article)
- Connecting Students and Building Classroom Community, with Danielle Reyes (podcast episode)
- Classroom Timers (podcast episode)
- Develop Global Collaborators: Connect Your Students to Classrooms Around the World (article)
- The AVID Open Access Back-to-School Toolkit (article collection)
A Chance to Enhance the Classroom Experience
The physical space in our classrooms makes a difference, and the type of impact it can have on students and learning is dependent upon what we do with that space. When done well, it supports not only instructional practices but also the identities of the students who are learning in that space. To make sure that the impact is positive, we need to be intentional about our choices and make sure that they align with our goals. The following are a few highlights from our conversation about this topic:
- Furniture: How is the furniture arranged in the classroom? What does the configuration of desks and tables communicate about how learning will happen? Will students be listening to lectures in rows? Will they be collaborating in groups? Will they be working around the room on projects? These are all important questions to address so that form matches function in your learning space.
- Different Learning Zones: What types of learning spaces will you be using on a regular basis? Will there be learning centers or a teacher table? Will students be using computers, and if so, what type of space will best accommodate that? As you set up learning zones, you’ll also want to consider if there are accessible walkways between desks and tables. Another consideration is computer screen visibility. Can you monitor student online behaviors as they work?
- Hidden Curriculum: The room can be an overlooked teacher of your students. What is the room saying to them? Is it communicating that they are valued? Which identities are acknowledged in the space? Does the space make everyone feel welcome? Does it represent who they are, where they are from, and their past experiences?
- Less Can Be More: It’s tempting for teachers to overdecorate their classrooms. While decor can create an inviting and interesting learning environment, too much can lead to distraction, clutter, and overstimulation. Also, when the teacher is the one doing all the decorating, it can make the room feel like the teacher’s space instead of the students’. Rena points out that it’s important to communicate a message of, “This is our space, not my space.” To do this, we can give students an active role in decorating and setting up the room.
- Trauma: Some students come to school with trauma. Does your classroom help calm them and make them feel safe, or does it exacerbate their anxiety? Teachers might consider having classroom-approved plants or pets that students can help care for. A calming corner that students can visit when needed may also make for a good addition. Color choice can impact mood, and calendars can help make routines more predictable.
- The Purpose of Each Space: While the setup is important, it’s equally important that students have an understanding of why the spaces are designed as they are and also how to properly interact with each space. Posting classroom charters, routines, procedures, and anchor charts can be helpful in this respect.
- David Thornburg’s Learning Spaces: Thornburg identifies five types of learning spaces that every classroom should have. Spaces include: Caves (for independent time with no distractions), Watering Holes (for collaborative group work), Campfires (for the class to gather around), Mountaintops (for students to celebrate successes and post their work), and Life (for students to engage in authentic, real-life learning and production).
- Community: The physical space of a classroom can contribute to or detract from a sense of community. What purpose does your space communicate? How do we make sure that students know how to use each space for its intended purpose? Does your space help or hinder the development of community and student connectedness?
- Language Learners: The physical space of a classroom offers opportunities to support language learners. Signs and visual labels can help learners identify words and concepts connected to the classroom learning space.
- Valuable Real Estate: Wall and floor space in a classroom is limited and therefore valuable. We need to be thoughtful about what we put in those spaces since those decisions will impact the emphasis that we place on topics, processes, and people.
Guiding Questions
If you are listening to the podcast with your instructional team or would like to explore this topic more deeply, here are guiding questions to prompt your reflection:
- How do you set up your classroom learning spaces?
- Does your classroom design support how you want students to learn?
- How does your classroom represent your learners?
- How might you involve your students in the design, setup, and decoration of your classroom?
- What concepts and ideas stood out to you from this conversation?
Extend Your Learning
- Learning Spaces (EDUCAUSE)
- Archetypal Spaces for Learning (John Dabell)
- Designing Learning Places Lab (Harvard Graduate School of Education)