Seating arrangements within classroom environments will vary from room to room and content to content. Since my school experience is going to be different, it will be exciting to observe how flexible arrangements effect levels of student engagement, collaboration, communication, productivity, learning and achievement. The Capital Area School for the Arts is a high school Arts school that focuses primarily on the Liberal Arts. The intensive high school level classes focus primarily on Music, Art, Video Production, Dance and Theater. Each classroom is very spacious and uniquely designed for it's content area. The Art room is very spacious with good natural lighting. It is arranged with large easels and several small groups of tables for student activities. These tables are used for collaborative learning activities and the easels are for independent Art activities. The teacher's desk is set in the far right back corner of the room. It is not a focal point in the room. Students are able to move freely around the room after direct instruction takes place. All activities are student centered, but very independent in nature at this time of the year. As the school end of the year performance is developed by the students, collaboration on the production's set will begin. The room was also equipped with a teacher's computer and three student computers and a printer.
I observed a dance class where there was a large dance floor and mirrored walls. There was a smaller location for 5 small rectangular tables with chairs and a small dry erase white board for direct instruction. Again, the teacher's desk was in a back corner and obviously not an important fixture for learning. The large dance floor was where active student learning took place. Students sat comfortably on the floor while the dance teacher instructed and then became involved in dance demonstrations and skill practice. Every student was completely engaged in the learning activities planned for the day. If only every content area could be so engaging and motivating. There was a teacher's computer, but no evidence of student computers in the room.
As I moved from the Dance room to the Video Production room, I found students moving freely around the halls into their respective classes. The Video room was arranged with 27 IMACs placed around the perimeter. There was a teacher station with an LCD projection and large white screen for instruction and student presentations. Students were assigned seats since they worked on the same computer for the entire year. There room was spacious and very easy to move around. I did not see tables for collaboration, but students were allowed to move to collaborate.
and share. Every student was engaged in their learning experiences while working on technology integrated projects.
Movement in the classrooms and halls of this new building is very flexible. Since there are only 75 students in the am and another 75 in the pm, it allows for a more intimate type atmosphere. Students are very well behaved and respectful. They are there because they choose to be. They are dedicated to their passion in the Arts. The atmosphere is very positive and uplifting. Teachers are very flexible and seem to practice a wide range of instructional practices. Most classes are very student centered. Students express themselves through their work in Art, Dance, Theater, Video Production, Song, and Music. The building is filled with the sounds of authentic learning. This small urban based school is not typical in any form. It is not typical at all. For more detail about the school, visit their school here http://www.casa-arts.org/. I am so excited to be working in such a unique school system. This will be a uniquely different experience, but I believe that it will allow me to think, learn and grow outside of the box.
Since staff is very experienced in their subject areas, I feel that it is a true learning environment. I did not see much as technology integration in many of the classes. I hope to make some recommendations with my ITS background and get some of the staff excited about using some online tools as well as digital cameras, microphones and recording devices. Some of these kids can really play their instruments beautifully. I don't see the seating arrangements as any type of concern since it really is not a focal point in any of the classrooms. It will be interesting to see how the room arrangements change as time goes on.
10/1/09
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