the digital classroom: innovative design helps students relax and focus (with video) - wireless smart board

Her laptop is on a stylish little table. The 10-year-
Old looks relaxed and focused.
This scene is reminiscent of a trendy coffee shop or home office.
But the fifth-grade students are actually in a "cave" in the St corridor.
Cecilia, her Nepean Elementary School.
The textbook definition of the classroom is changing. At St.
Cecilia, the concept of "classroom" extends to the whole school --every rainbow-
Hued nook and cranny seems to provide a place for individuals, duos and groups to learn in their own unique environment.
"It reminds me of studying in the room in front of my desk," Elissa said of her comfortable cave, one of the 10 caves on the two exterior walls of the school gym
"We can work independently (here)
No distractions.
Opened in 2013.
Cecilia felt it was built for Jetsons.
Half of you expect kids with space backpacks to fly by the window. The old-
The old-fashioned library has disappeared and is replaced by a vibrant Learning Commons.
The rooms are equipped with bright colored furniture, displays and decorations of various geometric shapes and sizes, which can almost make your eyes sleepy.
This is a place for cooperation, discussion and teaching.
Classes can sign on the tech tub with six Chromecast books for each bath.
Whispering is no longer the rule of law. Yes, “old-
There are still old-fashioned bookshelves here and there-but they seem to be an afterthought.
Yolanta Krawiecki's fifth grade class gathered today in public places, at six flexible stations-it's easy to connect to the lightweight "wiggle ang" tables that form a variety of work spaces, squeezingFloor chairs —
Kind of like the folder you brought to the beach-
Sit nearby in case students feel inclined to work on the floor.
Of course, Krawiecki's students are also scattered in nearby corridors, in private corners like Elissa.
Some of these caves are benches and some are comfortable chairs.
It's almost like a "Starbucks idea," said principal Andrea Green ".
There is even a blue mini sofa in the kindergarten cave.
More than five seriesseat “pods” —
Portable desk with removable
Line up in the corridor of the school.
Each pod has carts for ipad and Chromebooks.
The pods and caves can be easily seen from the glass walls and doors of the classroom.
This is an open
The concept of wireless learning environment.
But the teachers will pay close attention to each other's flock.
"Students can get in and out of the room and area with or without a teacher," explains green . ".
"Learning Space allows students to participate in the task --
Focus and focus.
Everyone is staring at everyone.
It does not disappear from the mind. The (students are)
In the fluid area-a shared space.
"Another thing you noticed at St.
Cecilia has no Square.
No square in the room.
There is no neat table in a neat row.
Triangles, circles, rectangles and other strange shapes dominate.
This is about the comfort of consistency.
Green said the bright open school was designed for mobility, collaboration and creativity.
The mobile workspace is no longer a child sitting passively on a static table for six hours a day, but struggling with a monotonous working environment.
Today is International Dot Day (Sept.
For those who want to celebrate next year)
-A class in the first grade is roaming in the pod. and-
The corridors full of caves depict the bits and pieces of the school. St.
Cecilia's design also caters to the needs of technology: from tech bathtubs to smart boards and walls. “(We’re)
Connect the World with what they do, "said the principal.
Today, Krawiecki's class is making a Google slide presentation about itself and creating its own cartoon avatar.
Gaby Hajal and Nicholas Brousseau say their chromebook allows them to easily study the facts about their community and favorite sports teams.
Krawiecki doesn't mind her class being scattered.
Her teaching strategy is flexible.
Students who work well under minimal supervision are perfect for pods and caves.
Those who need more interaction and help can stay in her classroom or-
In today's casethe Commons.
It all depends on the nature of the child and the activity.
"This space inspires me," she said . "
A British team at the School of Architecture and Environment at the University of Salford spent several years studying classroom design.
Professor Peter Barrett said that their research shows that factors such as flexible space, customization, color and environmental stimuli can improve children's academic performance by 16%.
School designers need to focus on "setting up classrooms", he added ". ”St.
Cecilia is the concrete embodiment of this information. At St.
However, in Patrick's High School, the virtual classroom is the main place for versatility, personality and participation.
Bernie Fernandez, a science teacher in Grade 9, may seem like a jazz musician.
Instead of playing saxophone, he was calculating the ratio of scores to density.
But today's lesson also extends to cyberspace.
"The social aspect of technology is what you can use to engage students in the classroom," he explains . ".
"They gave me Grade 9 because it set the tone ahead of time.
The students are investigating the density ratio of mass/volume.
However, racks of Beaker, chemicals and scientific instruments are idle.
This is a virtual lab.
The only tool needed is a laptop.
Molly Bauer and her lab.
Teammates Amina Mambambu and Laurie Delius say online experiments and assignments are more interesting and allow them to use their technical minds.
Like tweeting or texting, it's their second nature.
During the experiment, Power even looked up something with her smartphone
Fernandez encourages the use of personal gadgets for classroom purposes).
Two of their male classmates later described the textbook as "useless" and "wasting time ".
"It takes more time to read a book than to find something on Google," 14-year-old Power says.
"We will pay more attention to this because we are used to it.
It's easy for us to get bored if this is a textbook. (This is)
There is much less confusion and much less time.
Artin Biniek, 14, said Fernandez had his students "use technology more than any other teacher . "
Fernandez started developing his Blackboard course five years ago, which he believes has improved the success rate of his students.
The whole course is available online-
Participate in exercises from notes to textbooks, to additional resources, to discussion boards, scientific challenges, and Wikipedia.
Students attend classes in advance and then are ready to apply their knowledge through smart board activities or Labs
Both physical and virtual.
"It takes time to develop a smart board course.
"I don't want teachers to be able to combine this overnight," Fernandez said . ".
"But the good news is that once it comes up, we'll get better at sharing information (
Across the board). ”The cyber-
The class concept allows parents to track their child's homework and course itinerary through a Google calendar.
Each page even uses Google Translate for ESL parents.
"I think more and more parents are looking forward to this mechanism of delivery," he said . ".
"They also want to keep in touch --
Just like their kids are connected.
Of course, not all labs are virtual.
Students also have the opportunity to play crazy scientist occasionally.
But digital labs and the online world provide Fernandez with an important tool to connect with students.
It also extends his classroom to the front.
Students can work with other students online to complete complex tasks.
Then they can ask the teacher a question.
Google Docs allow Fernandez to help with homework in real time.
"I can really see them typing in their homework," he said . ".
"I can go on and say, 'this gentleman
He explained, Fernandez, why don't you try this "digital tool" that allows "differentiated instructions ".
"When you stand on the blackboard, the old school rote teaching . . . . . . What you teach is the middle part of the package, not the wide range.
Fernandez can use his online forum to attract top talent
End the students with bonus content, let them discuss a topic more deeply, and provide resources and reinforcement for students with difficulties in the first class.
"For Grade 9 students, I care more about their participation and learning skills than their scores," he said . ".
"The whole idea is to get every student involved.
Hopefully there is something that will get their attention and inspire them.
They are already looking at the world digitally and hope their information will be available soon.
"The digital world has changed the way children digest information.
"Children are learning on a large scale," he explained . ".
"Their attention span is shorter . . . . . . So you have to deliver (education)
In different ways.
Most children even know more about technology than the youngest and most fashionable teachers, Fernandez said.
"The children are listening," he said . ".
"If you don't use (technology)
They will tell you.
When the class was over, Fernandez said goodbye: "Today is Friday. I wish you a happy weekend . "
"Today is Friday," asked a girl . "
"You didn't realize it was Friday," he replied with a smile . ".
"This is the best science class ever. ” —
From Twitter account to blog
Also used to communicate with parents.
The course also takes into account students' comfort with "social aspects of computers --
Whether to communicate with other Ottawa people
Regional classrooms, or a new fall program, pair some courses with similar courses in France, Krawiecki said.
In fact, her students will use their Google slide presentation to introduce themselves to their peers overseas.
Even the walls of the school are designed to encourage inquiry. Twenty-
Three QR codes are built into the building structure, including an open QR code
Reveal the conceptual wall used to build different rocks and minerals in the school (
Krawiecki uses it for her rock and mineral sector).
There are many tools available to educators.
Between the trolley and the school.
Green estimates that the school has 150 color books and 80 iPads.
They also encourage students to use BYOD (
Bring your own equipment).
Krawiecki is a passionate educator and young man. looking 32.
This may be helpful.
The gap between 10 and 32 seems infinite.
Her generation of educators is more involved in the digital field. St.
Cecilia's innovative combination of space and technology allows her to create "lesson plans for inspiration "--
Whether it's adding a green screen to the drama or having the child make a clay video that brings a vivid lesson to the ecosystem.
Technology enables her to "focus on rich tasks" for young accusations ".
"This is about participation and (students)
"Create," she said.
"The school has changed. ”Indeed it has.
As a visiting adult, you may find yourself hoping you can go back in time and start over.