Re: What's new in classroom configurations

From: David Daniel Preiss Contreras (davidpreiss@puc.cl)
Date: Wed Mar 02 2005 - 16:12:57 PST


You got me!
Still the desk is not the whole story.In Chile, educational reform efforts
have emphasized new classroom arrangements that translated in putting the
desks together with kids looking at each other instead at the teacher in
front. However, after seeing 120 tapes of teachers, I noticed that they did
not change the ritual at all. The format is still the same: teacher centered
activity with an emphasis on lecturing and memorization of contents.

David

willthereallsvpleasespeakup who-is-at nateweb.info writes:

> I was being half way sarcastic. I was referring to the increasingly absent
> desk. It is still my favorite seating arrangment for all the reasons
> specified.
>
> Nate
>
>
>
>
> Mike Cole wrote:
>
>> I have a favorite classroom on the UCSD campus which I use in just the
>> way
>> that Nate is waiting for. It can seat 40 comfortably. The chairs are all
>> mobile
>> and in fact stacked between uses. There are two neighboring rooms with
>> modular tables. I use it to dynamically rearrange the geography of the
>> classrom between and within sessions. It is great, but I am afraid
>> to others
>> will find me out!
>> mike
>>
>>
>> On Wed, 2 Mar 2005 16:34:35 -0300, David Preiss <davidpreiss@puc.cl>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Are we talking about Cognitive Ergonomics here?
>>> It is kind of surprising that these learning environments have not been
>>> developed yet, taking in consideration all what has been made in other
>>> arenas of design.
>>>
>>> David Preiss
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> -
>>> Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile: www.puc.cl
>>> PACE Center at Yale University: www.yale.edu/pace
>>> Homepage: http://pantheon.yale.edu/~ddp6/
>>> Phone: 56-2-3547174
>>> Fax: 56-2-354-4844
>>> E-mail: david.preiss@yale.edu, davidpreiss@puc.cl
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: willthereallsvpleasespeakup who-is-at nateweb.info
>>> [mailto:willthereallsvpleasespeakup who-is-at nateweb.info]
>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 9:05 AM
>>> To: xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
>>> Subject: Re: What's new in classroom configurations
>>>
>>> What I am waiting for is a dymamic seating / learning environment that
>>> can adapt to different learning situations.
>>>
>>> A singular seat with a top (room inside for belongings would be great)
>>> that could be easily moved. They could be lined left to right and front
>>> to back for large presentations or lectures. They could be moved next to
>>>
>>> each other (tabletop to tabletop) for partner work. It would also be
>>> nice to set them up in pods of 4 to six at times. Another advantage of
>>> such a design is when more activity is needed they can be stacked on top
>>>
>>> of each other against the wall.
>>>
>>> Now, that would be revolutionary!
>>>
>>> --
>>> Website: http://nateweb.info/
>>> Blog: http://levvygotsky.blogspot.com/
>>> Email: willthereallsvpleasespeakup who-is-at nateweb.info
>>>
>>> "The zone of proximal development defines those functions that have not
>>> yet matured but are in the process of maturation, functions that will
>>> mature tomorrow but are currently in an embryonic state. These functions
>>> could be termed the buds or flowers of development rather than the
>>> "fruits" of development. The actual developmental level characterizes
>>> mental development retrospectively, while the zone of proximal
>>> development characterizes mental development prospectively."
>>> - L.S.V.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Website: http://nateweb.info/
> Blog: http://levvygotsky.blogspot.com/
> Email: willthereallsvpleasespeakup who-is-at nateweb.info
>
> "The zone of proximal development defines those functions that have not
> yet matured but are in the process of maturation, functions that will
> mature tomorrow but are currently in an embryonic state. the "fruits" of
> development. The actual developmental level characterizes mental
> development retrospectively, while the zone of proximal development
> characterizes mental development prospectively."
> - L.S.V.
>
>
 

David D. Preiss
home page: http://pantheon.yale.edu/~ddp6/



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