Classroom
In elementary schools (from Kindergarten through 5th grade), classrooms can have a whole group of 18 to 30 students (in some cases these numbers may differ) and one, two, or even three teachers.
In these classrooms there are tables instead of desks, a rug with a (Smart Board) for whole group learning, a library, computers, and centers.
There are 43 items on this checklist and it is divided into seven categories and they are as follows: Space and Furnishings, Personal Care Routines, Language-Reasoning, Activities, Interactions, Program Structure, and Parents and Staff.
[1] In an upper elementary classroom students now use desks, there is no rug for whole group learning but there is a Smart Board and computers.
Students also start practicing switching classes to get accustomed to middle and high, usually in fifth grade school transitions.
Teachers get to solely focus on their small group of students and create individualized lessons for each child.
Some other types of classrooms that a middle/high school or college might have include computer labs for IT lessons, gymnasiums for sports, and science laboratories for biology, chemistry and physics.
The layout, design and decor of the classroom has a significant effect upon the quality of the educational experience.
Research has suggested that optimal use of daylight, acoustics, color selection and even the arrangement of the furniture in the classroom can affect pupils' academic success.
[5] Georgetown University found that test scores increased by 11% through the improvement of a classroom's physical environment.
Choosing only materials that cause sound to reverberate, such as tile floors and hard wall surfaces, greatly increases noise levels and can prove detrimental to learning.
Children with attention deficit disorder scored higher on tests when white noise was being pumped into the classroom than when music was played.
[7] By utilizing soft surfaces, especially on the floor, the sounds within and outside of the classroom will be diminished, taking away from the distractions facing students and improving not just the test scores of hyperactive children, but those without attention deficit disorder as well.
Although carpet is an obvious choice for sound absorption, it may not be suitable for high traffic areas like hallways.
The use of sound absorbing ceiling tiles may also be a wise choice for areas where carpet cannot be used for practical purposes.
[9] By balancing warm and cool colors, bright and subdued, a pleasing effect can be achieved that will reduce absenteeism in schools and keep the students focused on what the teacher is saying.
Studies have found that the row style also fosters less off topic talking causing the atmosphere to be more conducive to learning.
The circle desk arrangement facilitates the flow of ideas by fostering positive group dynamics.
[19] However, critics argue that even the classroom space is full of distractions in the 21st century since even though access to the online world may be restricted by some institutions, students may find distractions in their physical vicinity and so tend to multitask and divide their attention without focusing on any one task at a time.
Italian educator Maria Montessori wrote that "Stationary desks and chairs [are] proof that the principle of slavery still informs the school".
