Floorplanner
I used Floorplanner.com to design my future classroom. This website allowed me to lay out my classroom in any way I wanted it. I laid out my classroom very specifically in order to spark creativity, community, communication, and hard work. One of the largest ways that I did that was by making the desks into a "U" shape. The reason I chose to set up the desks this way was so that the students would be able to collaborate with each other and help each other when they struggle which fosters a great classroom community. It also promotes hard work because if distracted students see their classmates working hard, they may be more motivated to start working harder. I also had the desks face the white board at the front so the students would all be able to see without having to turn completely around in their seats. Another element I incorporated into my classroom was a space for the students to rest or read, do puzzles, play games, etc. These areas are the carpeted corners of the classroom and the couch. I would use these areas to give students a "brain break" when they seem to be bored or are struggling to pay attention. The easel at the front of the classroom is for students to show some of their work or for the teacher to display large sheets of paper such as a poster or a map. Lastly, I chose to paint the back wall of the classroom blue. The purpose of this is to stimulate the senses of the students, but not to overwhelm or distract them with posters and things hanging all over the walls.
This artifact fits into Component 2E because this component is all about organizing a space for students to feel safe in. Component 2E also states that a classroom should encourage learning and creativity without distracting the students. The classroom must also be efficient for the students as well as the teacher. I believe my future classroom is efficient because it is easy to walk around and promotes collaboration, community and hard work.
Creating this floorplan took some getting used to, simply because it was difficult to maneuver furniture on a laptop. If someone was considering using this website I would definitely suggest using a mouse. Other than that, I simply chose my floor, door type, windows, wall colors, and furniture. After that all I had to do was move it to where I wanted it to go. I liked how many options I was given for furniture and colors as well as floor types.
This artifact supports pedagogy because any teacher could use the tool to plan out what they want to do with their classroom and how to do it in the most effective way for their class. It also relates to the ISTE standards because without an effective, efficient classroom, students would not be learning to their full potential. Floorplanner relates to Growth Mindset because it allows for trial and error. Teachers can use it to set up a classroom and the setup may not work for their particular students. The teacher would then be able to rearrange the room until it works for both teachers and students. It also relates to the SAMR model because it is Augmentation. While it is replacing pen and paper floor planning, it also has extra tools such as the 3D feature which allows you to see what your classroom would truly look like.
I can use this in my future classroom when I need to figure out which floor plan would work best for my students. As I learned in Ed Psych, a students' surroundings can really affect how they learn, so an effective classroom is key to getting your students to reach their full potential.
This artifact fits into Component 2E because this component is all about organizing a space for students to feel safe in. Component 2E also states that a classroom should encourage learning and creativity without distracting the students. The classroom must also be efficient for the students as well as the teacher. I believe my future classroom is efficient because it is easy to walk around and promotes collaboration, community and hard work.
Creating this floorplan took some getting used to, simply because it was difficult to maneuver furniture on a laptop. If someone was considering using this website I would definitely suggest using a mouse. Other than that, I simply chose my floor, door type, windows, wall colors, and furniture. After that all I had to do was move it to where I wanted it to go. I liked how many options I was given for furniture and colors as well as floor types.
This artifact supports pedagogy because any teacher could use the tool to plan out what they want to do with their classroom and how to do it in the most effective way for their class. It also relates to the ISTE standards because without an effective, efficient classroom, students would not be learning to their full potential. Floorplanner relates to Growth Mindset because it allows for trial and error. Teachers can use it to set up a classroom and the setup may not work for their particular students. The teacher would then be able to rearrange the room until it works for both teachers and students. It also relates to the SAMR model because it is Augmentation. While it is replacing pen and paper floor planning, it also has extra tools such as the 3D feature which allows you to see what your classroom would truly look like.
I can use this in my future classroom when I need to figure out which floor plan would work best for my students. As I learned in Ed Psych, a students' surroundings can really affect how they learn, so an effective classroom is key to getting your students to reach their full potential.
Danielson, C. (2007). Enhancing professional practice a framework for teaching (2nd ed.). Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.