Seating
I like the tables to be arranged in a U shape, sometimes if the class is very large I may have an outer and an inner U. I find that this helps me to work around the room when teaching so that I do find myself trapped behind my desk when giving my presentations, and I also closer to the students
I also makes it easier to break the students into groups, as we just move the table apart.
I teach many of the introduction classes, so every week I like to have a new seating chart, so that the students can get to know on another.
Craig,
yes the seating arrangement is important as it helps facilitate the discussion between all members of the class.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I have a classroom that has a U shape table arrangement in the center, with computers they can turn around and access against the wall. When we have our discussions, I can move around the inside or outside of the tables keeping my students focused on me.
John,
seating is very important. I think you demonstrate a great way of making the best out of a situation where you don't have full control.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I believe that seating is very important in a classroom. If you set it up traditionally, students sitting in the middle of the class tend to do the best because they recieve the most eye contact. I am not allowed to re-arrange my classrooms because the desks make too much noise. So, as a rule, I never allow students to sit in the front row, or the last two rows if I have a small enough class.
Abraham,
Great point you make here. I know this is an area where I struggle, just taking a couple of minutes to rearrange the room to provide a better learning atmosphere for everyone.
Ryan
U shape kind of classroom arrangement works great for interaction not only teacher -students but among students as well. face to face interaction helps a great deal to get the message acrossed from all angles.
Robyn
I think this is a great example of how our seating arrangements/decisions need to help students but also definitely have a utilitarian side too. In this case, the arrangement in rows makes the most practical sense.
Ryan
I have found through the school system I work for, that the computer labs are easier to have the computers in rows and the instructor can walk and see what the students are doing. If it is an assigned lab assessment,this way the instructor can see all screens.It helps both the student and instructor monitor who is off task,who needs help and who is having tech trouble.
I have a physical injury that makes it necessary for me to pace the room. Arthritis in my ankles seems to do better if I stay moving. This has motivated me to arrange the desks in such a way that there are 4 rows of desks, 2 face a center isle in the room the other 2 face it as well. So students are never further than one row away from me. This really helped eliminate that "back row" syndrome. It allows the students to turn only slightly to see the white board and they can follow me pacing the center row without having to look behind them. It also makes it more difficult for them to sit in their "clicks" as the row is long and includes more people.
I have found that U shape seating does indeed support the discussion environment. I have taught where the seating is the V shape which seems to put more focus on the instructor and limits the students openness for discussion. It seems that u shape allows for a more natural flow for students to be more comfortable with discussion whereas with the V seating, it seems that students need a little coaching to get invovled.
I teach in an environment with lecture and demonstration as part of the daily routine. The problem is the demonstration because sometimes I am limited to where the equipment is located. I ask students keep watch over things that I am working on for the demo. This way they are involved and will learn themselves through helping me.
I also agree the u shape seating is the best when it can be used,that way there is not really a frount or back of the classroom and students can get to know one another better.
I have 30 students (new) every three weeks and I like to have the tables in four large groups and then two single tables in the middle this helps me to be able to walk freely around the room. This helps during testing time as well to watch and make sure none of the students are cheating.
I can understand where you are coming from. We are in a similar situation because of the classroom size. One thing we do is make a seating chart for the students that changes as the weeks progress. This allows them to get to know each other so it is less likely for isolation of a particular student or group of students to occur.
Also, with a seating arrangement it gives the instructors time to get to know the student by name, which dependent on class size can be a difficult task. When it is time to change the arrangement it is a quiz for you to reiterate the name with the face, not the name with the seat.
Another thing we like to do if possible is to take the class outdoors. If you have a small enough group this works great! Lets them get some fresh air and have a change of scenary, but you have to be very structured in managing the class so you can keep their focus. I try to relate the outdoor experience with something we are discussing in class.
Ex: Dental radiology. I will have the students follow me outside. We all walk to a designated spot. I am talking to them about the amounts of radiation exposure. During my conversation I emphasize that most of the exposure to radiation comes from natural background radiation. By us going outside we are absorbing more radiation naturally over time than what is absorbed with dental radiographs over time. Students then start to chatter and offer opinions and ask questions. This real world experience will make them remember that topic and is very successful in retaining the information for life. REMEMBER this is topic dependent and institution dependent. Not every school allows outdoor events.
I agree, the last thing they need is to feel like they are back in high school!!!!
Hi Karen!
I know a lot of the ideas in the posts are very good but - as you know - it isn't possible for everyone.
Does anyone in this post have other suggestions for Karen?
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
I thought that was an interesting that you have a new seating chart, each week for introduction courses. That is about all I can do for seating because I teach in a computer lab I have to use the seating the way it is set up I don't have much flexible in changing the room.
I also work in a Kitchen lab and I have the students come up for the demo so it is informal. They can also ask questions or even help out with the demo itself. Sometimes I will randomly have them do quick demos up front with the class so they can all feel welcome around the class. They all seem to like it.
I like the U shape as well and find it effective however class size limits the use of the U shape most of the time.
