#caedchat is for California educators, by California educators. All are welcome as moderators and participants discuss issues that emerge in California education, which are generally applicable to other regions of the United States.
Welcome to #caedchat, where educators gather to share and collaborate! Tonight’s topic is Modern Learning Environments. Tonight's Chat is moderated by @JoeMarquez
Let’s all take a moment to introduce ourselves. Where are you from? What do you teach? What is your favorite "Guilty Pleasure" movie? #caedchat@JoeMarquez70
Scott Petri, HS History teacher from LA. After the kids go to bed, I love watching Stripes, Caddyshack or What About Bob. I love Bill Murray. #caedchat
Joe Marquez here from Clovis CA, K-12 EdTech. I have to admit, I still LOVE Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure! Plus a great way to show how presentations can be exciting! Party on Dudes! #CAEdchat
Our Moderator @JoeMarquez70 will post questions with Q1, Q2, Q3. Participants respond with A1, A2, A3, etc.
Tip: Use TweetDeck and have two columns open for the chat: one for real time and one for where you are in the chat.
Be sure to use the #caedchat hashtag on every tweet.
Hello, Rachael joining from SoCAL, History teacher in Placentia Yorba Linda. Guilty when it comes to binge watching a good show, Narcos would be one! Movies- anything simple & sweet, "Anywhere But Here" is on right now. #caedchat
OK! Here we go!!
Q1: Who is your classroom? If it had a personality who would it be? Does your space encourage learning? Is it cluttered? Flaws? #caedchat
A1: I don't have a classroom anymore. But was never a fan of clutter. Tried to include Ss personality, but so much I'd do different now if I was back in class! #caedchat
A1 My classroom is made up of singular desks, but they move quickly from rows to pods to circles. Would love to be able to hang up more student work, but cinderblock walls make that difficult. #caedchat Definitely cluttered. Like a paper factory exploded.
A1) My classroom would be like a productive episode of hoarders. I am forever grateful that my master teacher allowed me to adopt 30+ years of a history teacher's stuff. I have kept some awesome treasures and still purge every year. De-clutter! #CAedchat
A1: Right now it feels like my room is Frankenstein. Feels cluttered. 2nd yr in rm after 10 yrs building prior rm. Tried hybrid of flex seating & teacher led instruction #caedchat
A1: I am not sure what kinda personality or who my classroom would be. But I do think it's a space that encourages learning. I am pretty OCD (flaw) so everything has it's placed. But there are other areas - such as our Makerspace area - that is "organized chaos." #caedchat
Cluttered because I am a closet hoarder. My life is a desperate cry for help. Going digital is supposed to help, but I am still in love with paper. #caedchat
A1: My classroom’s personality could be described as “transitioning.” This year, I let my students redesign it. It was cluttered before, and now it has a cleaner and more home-like feel. It is still in transition mode, as I want to rearrange the seating. #caedchat
I try to do an annual purge too! I have stuff (that's been passed down to me) that I try to get rid of every summer. If I didn't use it that year, it goes in the trash. #caedchat
I find ppl with just as much digital clutter! Lots of research around clutter inhibiting learning. Maybe that will help motivate to use circular file bin? https://t.co/3yfTDpwWGE#caedchat
A1: Out of the classroom now as consultant. The thing I always wanted was more space: places for Ss to hang out; to show work; to set up learning stations; to house libraries; to feel more open. #caedchat
A1: Meghan from Fairfield. I purposely have no desk and keep things off the walls bc I am notoriously messy. I leave piles everywhere. So, my classroom SEEMS neat & calm. #caedchat
Q1: If my Ss/classroom had a personality it would be Dash from The Incredibles— active, curious, smart, implusive, caring... While my classroom isn’t cluttered and it provides a lot of structure, there is not a lot of “wiggle room” or spaces that encourage exploration. #caedchat
I moved houses last year and purged a decade of lessons, textbooks, and student work that I had saved for no good reason. I don't know why I hang on to non-essentials. I still have all my textbooks from college. ALL 10 years worth. #caedchat
A1. Four blank white walls, eight rows of desks six to eight deep, poor lighting, four big whiteboards. Welcome to the fabulous world of university classrooms. #caedchat
We filled a book shelf with empty binders when our building started clearing out old training binders. It was kinda embarrassing how much we had lugged around for years. #caedchat
I got rid of most of my books - I am an English major so that HURT. But figured others should enjoy them. Trying to get more minimalist. Work in progress #caedchat
Agreed! I had thought it was an elem thing until I read a book to my 7th gr and they asked if they could come sit on carpet. It opened my eyes. #caedchat
I had a hard time with the textbooks...I found I had no problem when storing them at my parents house but when my husband & I bought our place, many didn't make the cut :/ #caedchat
In reply to
@scottmpetri, @ASMILEwithAnna, @LSpencerEdD
Q2: If money was no object what are the must haves when redesigning your learning space? What technology would you like to see included in your learning space? What technology should NOT be included in a modern learning environment?
#caedchat
It was brutal. I kept some - faves and go-to ones... but many I felt I was keeping just to prove I was well-read. Like a status symbol. Make sense? #caedchat
A2 I'd like more room so I could support direct instruction, collaborative groups and creative space. Also need some reduced sound areas for recording podcasts and Flipgrids. #caedchat
A2: Funny that $$ isn't really needed. I'd have comfy sitting spaces. Areas for introverts to step away. Places for the brain to process. Places for it to rest #caedchat
A2. Moveable desks, comfortable seats, much more natural lighting . . . honestly in my ideal world, it would be outside or as close to outside as possible. ☺ #caedchat
A2: I would love to do a flexible seating arrangement - get rid of the huge, heavy desks. Replace with standing desks, wobble chairs, bean bags, comfort chairs & seating options for my kiddos. We have 1:1 Chromebooks, so FS allows for more collaboration for my Ss. #caedchat
Q2: If money was no object what are the must haves when redesigning your learning space? What technology would you like to see included in your learning space? What technology should NOT be included in a modern learning environment?
#caedchat
A2 Space, space & more space! My classrooms have never had enough space! Current classroom tech love: #Jamboards Classroom tech waste of $$: SmartBoards. #caedchat
A2: full wall of whiteboard to do #360math and #designthinking , movable tables, multiple flat-screens for presenting - students need to own the space #CAedchat
A2: I would want every student to have a connected device, but I would also want every classroom to have quality AV device & large screen with annotation ability. Then everyone would have high speed Internet at home. #caedchat
Agreed. I saw a great slide by @RLH_DesignED with a child at a desk surrounded by plants. Made me realize how much the introvert is excluded from design #caedchat
A2: Adequate square footage. At least two 80” screens, chairs with wheels, collaborative work spaces. Lots of light, views of nature separate quiet room #caedchat
A2: Also key is that there's not a one-size-fits-all approach. Different rooms need different options. We can't just purchase 6000 desks on wheels #caedchat
A2: Next yr's plan: remove crate cubbies add counter kitchen space. Add video station to island for cooking/science 'shorts'. Add two couches and two tables. Get rid of 'most' desks. Ditch projector add TV on rack & streaming box. #caedchat
Yep. We moved from 3K sq ft w a 4 car garage to about half that size. Everything went. Books, old computers, drum set, keyboard, everything I never threw out. On the bright side. I park in a garage now. #caedchat
In reply to
@rcollins_edu, @ASMILEwithAnna, @LSpencerEdD
A2) If money was truly NO object, having less than 38 desks in my classroom & getting rid of the bulky countertop that stored desktops. Otherwise flexible seating! Ability to change from table groups to circular setting for Socratic Seminars w/ minimal effort. #caedchat
Q2: If money was no object what are the must haves when redesigning your learning space? What technology would you like to see included in your learning space? What technology should NOT be included in a modern learning environment?
#caedchat
A2: Big carpets, U-shaped tables, touch smarts, iPads, projector. I have a projector, a few iPads, and a few touch chrome books. I would also love an @PlayOsmo and a @GoogleForEdu expedition kit. #caedchat
A2 I would have more comfortable seating with a variety of choices (bistro tables,couches,bean bags). There would be more live indoor plants, and a food/water station. I would also incorporate better lighting. I am working on that (pics). #caedchat
A2: Wishful thinking. I need a programmer to make Google Hangouts with whiteboard, earth/maps, drive, classroom all in one suite. No more whiteoboards all screen to screen. And a button to switch to LAN. #googleEDU#caedchat
That's awesome, thank you for sharing! Spanish teacher at our school teaches through total physical response storytelling and she has had great success with ditching her desks #caedchat
The future of learning is a natural environment with integrated learning technology. All classroom tasks are as simple & accessible as laying your head on the desk. No drooling required. #caedchat
A3: about addressing our unique learners evolving needs. It needs to be student-centered, engaging, relevant, collaborative and unique to our learners. #caedchat
Teachers and students should have the ability to adjust or reconfigure furniture themselves, without calling in a facility manager, and they have to be able to do so within three minutes. — Dr. Axel Haberer
A2: I was thinking about my early work in early childhood edu & looked this site up. This is one of my dream enviornments. #caedchathttps://t.co/bmw7596rjG
A3: The future of learning needs to be safe first and foremost. Without that, the following won’t happen... positive, inclusive, differentiated, and personal. #caedchat
Watch #60Minutes later. You might change your mind. #Unregulatedmonopoly. If competition is a lever in public ed than it should be for publicly traded companies too. #caedchat
A4: I think teachers, admins, and district decision makers need to be on board. It's an expensive process. And really, it will fundamentally change the way teachers teach, so they need to be on board. #caedchat
A4: Teachers have to be able to 'use' the environ, Ss need to be inspired by it, parents need to trust it, Admins need to be able to afford it. Start with the Ss & work it backwards to accomplish the aforementioned. #caedchat
A4 Don't beat a good idea to death with needless meetings involving barely engaged stakeholders. Trust in the vision of your innovative teachers. Let them lead. #caedchat No more blueprints. Classrooms should be like individuals.
A4 First stakeholder is the student. It is the environment created for THEIR learning, so they should be the first to provide input. Teachers spend the majority of their day in the room, as well, so their input is valuable. Next, whoever is funding the environment. #caedchat
I think teachers need more than just input. They don't just spend time in the room. They design experiences. The room must respond to their design. They must understand how #caedchat
Q3: The physical environment can be sparse and inadequate and learning will occur when the culture is full of trust, hope and love. When void of trust, hope and love the most perfect physical environment matters not #caedchat
We need all the key stakeholders. Ask students what they want and teachers too. It is their world what is being affected by changes in learning environment. Admins, business and parents too! #caedchat
A4: Ss: they know what they want. Ts: they know what works. OTs/SLPs/Psych/etc... they know what specialized supports Ss need. Local law enforcement: they know what keeps Ss safe. #caedchat
I like how @mytakeontech approaches it w/teachers: each T spends months of research on enviro/design of remodel before the classroom is redone #caedchat
Q5: Why is displaying student work important in a classroom? How can a classroom redesign re-define what student work is and how we can display it in a modern learning environment? #caedchat
A5: Displaying work is important, but not always in classroom. I'd rather see work process than stagnant product put up mainly for adult eyes #caedchat
A5 I am struggling with this. I like to display student exemplars as mentor texts and I need ways to store them digitally, so I can access them quickly. This takes more reflection and brainpower. #FeelingAlone#caedchat
A5: I think multiple flat panels, QR codes, and AR (Augmented Reality not accelerated reader) are fantastic ways to merge posted student work with a redesigned environment! #CAEdchat
Q5: I love seeing creatively “decorated” classrooms that include student work displayed BUT spending your time providing your Ss quality descriptive feedback about that work is time better spent. #caedchat
A5: Rooms started to worksheets/art on boards, then came videos, then web sites, now social media. My hope is Ss models, intitiatives, community projects are the future. I'd like to expand some cooking genius times to making lunch for the campus once a 1/4. #caedchat
A5: I love the use of QR codes for quickly pulling up students' digital work. I would love to have a digital display bulletin board - but that's still a while away. My kiddos keep all their work in digital portfolios. #caedchat
A5: the wall space should be owned by students, so it’s relevant to them, not just noise. Student created word walls, links to portfolios, & students ideas should be on the walls. #CAedchat
A5 Since the majority of our assignments are digital now, I post exemplary/model student work on our English 11 Instagram page; even speeches. Student engagement and participation has significantly increased because they want to contribute quality work to be shared. #Caedchat
A5: And a lot of times those decorated classrooms actually distract from learning. Pinterest-classrooms don't always make the cut. I have a few blog posts on it https://t.co/wgKJjkBVqt#caedchat
A5)The mass # of students can't be a barrier. My students have portfolios to show inquiry/writing. I would like to make the digital switch. Also did a leader mural this year!Ss brought picture of 1 person they feel is a model leader- great collection of faces! #CAedchat
Q5: Why is displaying student work important in a classroom? How can a classroom redesign re-define what student work is and how we can display it in a modern learning environment? #caedchat
A5: Rms started w/ worksheets/art on boards, then came videos, then web sites, now social media. My hope is Ss models, initiatives, community projects are the future. I'd like to expand some cooking genius times to making lunch for the campus once a 1/4. #caedchat
Ss are great at taking pictures of their work and submitting it into Google Classroom. I am not good at archiving and organizing high, medium, and low quality samples. Takes too much time. Already moving on to next priority. Need to slow down. #caedchat
Love this! WE share our accomplishments on Social Media, so why can't out classroom accomplishments be share there as well? I say they should! #CAEdchat
A5: Displaying student work in the classroom sends a message of validation. Giving s's a forum to share their work digitally opens their world to a potentially limitless authentic audience. #caedchat
Totally get that! We are moving at speed of light these days! Hard to slow down and take a breath! Any local colleges have a preservice teacher needing intern time? #caedchat
A5: I teach in an inclusive classroom and displaying S work, each Ss work, reinforces that every S is important, valued, and very much a part of our classroom. It’s a daily reminder that I am proud of each of them and their work. #caedchat
Q6. “One of the things I really like about my school is that it doesn’t feel like a school when I walk into it.” -Student
How can the layout of the classroom affect student learning? Increase achievement? Create safe environment? Improve Engagement? Inspire creativity? #caedchat
We needs to make the learning spaces inviting and comfortable but I see and hear how overwhelmed Ts are with the demands of the job who expend soooo much energy in places that don’t necessarily impact Learning or match the Ts efforts
