subject: Classroom Arrangements Affect Learning Process [print this page] While the most important factors in improving learning experiences is a good and prepared teacher, there are a number of other factors that can impact how successful your lessons are. For example, the way that your classroom is arranged can have a direct effect on how well your students are learning. A well arranged classroom can have as big a positive effect as a badly organised one can have a negative, this makes it a very important area to consider when you are creating your classroom environment.
They way that your classroom is arrange also reflects your style as a teacher, so if you prefer your students to work collaboratively small groupings of desks works fine, but if you want the class to work together as a whole you may want to spread individuals out more. You should also consider the type of classroom technology you have access to when you decide on your seating plans. If you expect to make use of technology such as interactive whiteboards frequently, it'll be important all desks can see the front, for example.
Don't be afraid to reorganise a classroom to suit yourself or the type of lessons you plan to give, but make sure you don't change it around or mix it up too much during a course of study. This is important as sometimes a certain position can help students recall and associate previous lessons with new ones. It's also a good idea to allow them to become comfortable in their environment and encourage a sense of ownership over their own workspace.
Deciding on ways to organise your classroom also means taking into account the fact that you not only need to teach your class, but you may need to manage them too. This means that you also have to be conveniently placed to effectively deal with any disturbances and to make sure that you remain a focal point for your students. However, one good tip is to make sure that you minimise the number of personal effects you bring into your classroom with you. Bringing too many non-learning oriented possessions into the classroom can send the wrong message to students, so it's best to keep as much as possible in the staff room.
Making sure you provide a classroom that makes the most of the classroom technology available is geared towards making the most out of your lesson time is very important if you want your students to stay motivated - don't neglect it.
