Nestled within the four walls of my 5th grade Math and Science classroom was a classroom that looked like it jumped out of a one room school house scene from Little House on the Prairie. Okay, maybe not that extreme but none the less, my classroom was in need of an over hall.
Not much has changed for the classroom learning space since the early 1900’s. Students are still passively sitting in individual desks in rows and the teacher is still in the front of the room. In order to prepare students for their future careers, classrooms need to shift to accommodate 21st century learning practices.
With the help of my CTEPS (Classroom Teachers Enacting Positive Solutions) Team, I diligently worked throughout this school year to incorporate a learning space suitable for the students of today, not the students of yesteryear. I focused on whether or not implementing a classroom redesign with digital and active learning spaces would increase student engagement and learning. Research shows that classrooms designed for active learning have a positive impact on student engagement and intentionally designing spaces provides for more effective teaching and learning.
With the help of my CTEPS (Classroom Teachers Enacting Positive Solutions) Team, I diligently worked throughout this school year to incorporate a learning space suitable for the students of today, not the students of yesteryear. I focused on whether or not implementing a classroom redesign with digital and active learning spaces would increase student engagement and learning. Research shows that classrooms designed for active learning have a positive impact on student engagement and intentionally designing spaces provides for more effective teaching and learning.