Thread: Classroom of the future - your ideas!

Keep this word in mind

ERGONOMICS

No student furniture at my school was built with any thought to ergonomics. Especially the computer tables the students work at.

Bigger, tougher student desks- I've got two poor little guys in my 2nd block- both of them over 6 feet, both over 200 lbs. (These are high school freshmen, btw- 14 years old). Nothing flimsy, tough enough to outlast several generations of students. Also, whatever you come up with- lots of room for walking and access, and with sufficient electrical outlets that powerstrips and wires are at a minimum.

For the younger kids, I feel another word should come out:

DURABILIY.

JohnBoy,

A big virtual High-Five for your post. This is something that I think no school and for that matter no public building takes into account.

When I was in high school, I was 6' tall as a freshman. I couldn't fit in a desk to save my life, and there were kids bigger than I was. Those desks are incredibly small. Being a different size can become a disability and that's not often taken into account.

It seems simple, and perhaps unimportant, but it's a big deal for those with the challenge. I haven't been able to buy a pair of shoes or a jacket in a store, watch a play comfortably, or ride in the back seat of a car since I was 13. It may seem silly, but it's a real pain. Being uncomfortable and an outcast isn't something that a kid should have to put up with in school.

Also, Bexy, keep cost in mind. You may create the best thing since sliced bread, but remember that schools have to be able to afford it. Many classrooms are still relying on overhead projectors (1970s anyone?), and don't really have the money to advance beyond that. Unlike private companies with huge budgets, schools don't often buy what's best, but instead opt for what's cheapest.

It would be nice if every desk had a built-in 802.11n wireless connection, and a built-in tablet-pc interface. The students could take whatever notes they wanted, view special notes sent only to them, receive reminders, keep a calendar and turn in assignemnts. The database could be available for home use, and the children would never have to miss a beat if they missed a day of class.

You can look to technology for sources of improvement, but technology is a tool, not a source of dependency.

Think about class colors and a promoting environment. White is drab and mildy-depressing. Thought-provoking and helpful posters are always nice, but too many will bring-in the fire marshall.