There are a lot of theories out there about how different classroom construction can produce better learning. Some argue that traditional front-facing rows provide the most structure and maintain good behavior, but others would say that kind of conformity stifles learning and creativity. There’s no argument about the integral role of the teacher within the classroom, but some schools have taken to looser rules and more student democracy. The following list explains a number of these unconventional classrooms.
- No-desk classroom: This design is said to stimulate creative thinking and provide comfort in a stressful environment. Sitting at a desk all day can take a toll on your back, but it can also take a toll on your mind. Without the ability to get up, change positions, and shake everything off, students tend to drone on in the school day. A classroom without desks is an open environment where students sit where they feel comfortable. Handled correctly with proper behavior management, it’s easy to see how a no-desk classroom could catch on.
- Circle desk design: While not completely unconventional, desks pushed into a circle or divided into small groups can spruce up a learning environment. Classrooms that emphasize student discussion could benefit from a circle desk construction; each person could look into the eyes of the student they are discussing with instead of using the teacher at the front of the room as a medium for message delivery.
- Student voting: Imagine a classroom where the students decided the seating chart, the structure of the lesson plans, and even the pace of the unit. In some classrooms, students are allowed to choose the classroom organization. It teaches them consequences and forces them to be responsible and mature.
- Non-traditional subjects: Sewing, painting, instrument playing, and photography are just a few possible subjects for non-traditional classrooms. These extracurricular subjects give the student a broader frame of reference for learning.