2.2 Essential Pedagogical Knowledge [PK]
Setting Up Your Classroom
Depending on your situation, you may or may not have control over the placement of computers or even the availability of extra instructional items such as projectors or white boards. However, if you do have some say in this conversation it may be helpful to consider your options. Here we'll critically evaluate two possible arrangements for school computer labs to identify potential weaknesses and strengths. Note that these permanent arrangements can be imitated using mobile laptop and/or tablet carts by re-organizing your classroom or teaching space.
Take a minute to inspect the layout of the computer lab shown to the left. This seems to be a very common setup in many school computer labs and library spaces. However, there are five primary concerns that I have about this type of arrangement from the perspective of teaching students how to code:
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Computer Placement
Having all the computer monitors face different ways helps to distinguish this space from a 'traditional' classroom. The arrangement shown above may facilitate student collaboration by making all monitors viewable by other students, but this can be a major issue when trying to teach coding. If the instructor cannot view all screens at once then students are very likely to switch tabs and start playing games when their monitor is out of the teacher's line of sight. To make matters worse, other students who are trying to focus can see their screen and will be easily distracted by any peers who are not on task. As a result, the instructor must be constantly moving around the room to ensure that such disruptions do not occur.
Instructor Positioning
Where would the instructor position themselves in the computer lab shown above? While modern teaching approaches emphasize that learning is socially constructed and that the teacher should not be the 'center' of the classroom, it is also important to acknowledge that students will become frustrated very quickly if it is difficult to view the instructor's examples. No matter where the instructor stands in this room, some students will have to spin back and forth on their chairs as they toggle back and forth between listening to instructions and working on their monitors.
Presentation Options
If you look closely you will see that a projector is connected to the instructor's computer station at the front of the room (opposite the coloured walls). This will project the teacher's screen onto the wall behind them. Two issues arise from this set up. First, the teacher cannot see what is being projected; if there are display issues (e.g. blurriness, dying light-bulb, connection errors, etc) then the instructor will probably be unaware until students interrupt the lesson to bring up the issue. Second, as with instructor positioning, some students will be able to look at both their screens and the teacher's projected display while others will have to continually swivel their head or chairs back and forth to stay engaged.
Natural Lighting
This computer lab has wonderful access to natural light which is typically considered a positive feature in any classroom. However, this room in particular has natural lighting from two opposite directions. This means that certain monitors in the room will be lit by direct sunlight in the morning while others will be lit in the afternoon. Such direct light on a monitor makes it difficult or impossible to view the display and can strain student's eyes as they try to carefully inspect their code. On the other hand, working on a computer screen while sunlight is shining in your eyes is perhaps equally uncomfortable. Unfortunately, it appears that there are no blinds or covers with which to block the light coming in from either side of the room so this issue will be difficult to resolve.
Room Temperature
If you have not worked in a dedicated computer lab you may not realize how much heat desktop computers produce while active. Add thirty students to that room and the temperature will rise a few more degrees. On top of all that, this room has large windows which will likely create a 'greenhouse' effect inside this room. Noisy fans or power-hungry A/C units might help to alleviate this issue but I anticipate that teaching in this space would become agonizing on warm, summer days.
Having all the computer monitors face different ways helps to distinguish this space from a 'traditional' classroom. The arrangement shown above may facilitate student collaboration by making all monitors viewable by other students, but this can be a major issue when trying to teach coding. If the instructor cannot view all screens at once then students are very likely to switch tabs and start playing games when their monitor is out of the teacher's line of sight. To make matters worse, other students who are trying to focus can see their screen and will be easily distracted by any peers who are not on task. As a result, the instructor must be constantly moving around the room to ensure that such disruptions do not occur.
Instructor Positioning
Where would the instructor position themselves in the computer lab shown above? While modern teaching approaches emphasize that learning is socially constructed and that the teacher should not be the 'center' of the classroom, it is also important to acknowledge that students will become frustrated very quickly if it is difficult to view the instructor's examples. No matter where the instructor stands in this room, some students will have to spin back and forth on their chairs as they toggle back and forth between listening to instructions and working on their monitors.
Presentation Options
If you look closely you will see that a projector is connected to the instructor's computer station at the front of the room (opposite the coloured walls). This will project the teacher's screen onto the wall behind them. Two issues arise from this set up. First, the teacher cannot see what is being projected; if there are display issues (e.g. blurriness, dying light-bulb, connection errors, etc) then the instructor will probably be unaware until students interrupt the lesson to bring up the issue. Second, as with instructor positioning, some students will be able to look at both their screens and the teacher's projected display while others will have to continually swivel their head or chairs back and forth to stay engaged.
Natural Lighting
This computer lab has wonderful access to natural light which is typically considered a positive feature in any classroom. However, this room in particular has natural lighting from two opposite directions. This means that certain monitors in the room will be lit by direct sunlight in the morning while others will be lit in the afternoon. Such direct light on a monitor makes it difficult or impossible to view the display and can strain student's eyes as they try to carefully inspect their code. On the other hand, working on a computer screen while sunlight is shining in your eyes is perhaps equally uncomfortable. Unfortunately, it appears that there are no blinds or covers with which to block the light coming in from either side of the room so this issue will be difficult to resolve.
Room Temperature
If you have not worked in a dedicated computer lab you may not realize how much heat desktop computers produce while active. Add thirty students to that room and the temperature will rise a few more degrees. On top of all that, this room has large windows which will likely create a 'greenhouse' effect inside this room. Noisy fans or power-hungry A/C units might help to alleviate this issue but I anticipate that teaching in this space would become agonizing on warm, summer days.
Now we'll consider an alternate arrangement which addresses all five of these issues. While no setup is perfect, the physical layout of the learning space can be a major factor in the implementation of coding lessons. Compare and contrast the computer lab below with the lab discussed above. What similarities do you notice? What key differences do you see?
Computer Placement
In this classroom, all monitors face the same direction. This allows all students to work and view the presentation screen without turning their necks or chairs. It also limits the effect that distracted students can have on those around them without inhibiting possibilities for collaboration. Instructor Positioning While not in view, I imagine that the instructor is set up at the back of the room, opposite the presentation screen. This may seem counter-intuitive at first. However, this addresses two major issues brought up previously. First, the instructor can view the presentation screen as they display their monitor. Second, they can observe every student monitor in the room at a glance which is highly beneficial for classroom management purposes. |
Presentation Options
This setup allows for two types of instructor presentation, both which allow all students to engage equally. The teacher may provide instruction from the front of the room and make use of the two white boards on either side of the presentation screen. Alternatively, they can share their monitor from their teacher station at the back of the room and easily observe any issues with the projector or display. In addition, all students can easily view both types of presentation without having to turn or swivel.
Natural Lighting
While there is natural light in this classroom, it enters through smaller windows from a single direction. Direct sunlight may still interfere with the viewing of monitors but it will be easier to address this issue by either covering up the windows or by shuffling the schedule. For example, if the lighting is disadvantageous in the early morning blocks then perhaps a class can be hosted later in the day. Alternatively, if this is a shared lab space that is communally booked, it may be wise to book it only during blocks were the lighting conditions are favorable.
Room Temperature
The classroom temperature will likely still be an issue in this space, as it is with most computer labs. However, smaller windows allow for more control of the potential 'greenhouse effect' within the classroom and the drop-down shades can provide a bit of shade during the brighter hours of the day.
This setup allows for two types of instructor presentation, both which allow all students to engage equally. The teacher may provide instruction from the front of the room and make use of the two white boards on either side of the presentation screen. Alternatively, they can share their monitor from their teacher station at the back of the room and easily observe any issues with the projector or display. In addition, all students can easily view both types of presentation without having to turn or swivel.
Natural Lighting
While there is natural light in this classroom, it enters through smaller windows from a single direction. Direct sunlight may still interfere with the viewing of monitors but it will be easier to address this issue by either covering up the windows or by shuffling the schedule. For example, if the lighting is disadvantageous in the early morning blocks then perhaps a class can be hosted later in the day. Alternatively, if this is a shared lab space that is communally booked, it may be wise to book it only during blocks were the lighting conditions are favorable.
Room Temperature
The classroom temperature will likely still be an issue in this space, as it is with most computer labs. However, smaller windows allow for more control of the potential 'greenhouse effect' within the classroom and the drop-down shades can provide a bit of shade during the brighter hours of the day.
Loosen up a bit, eh? Get up and stretch before scrolling down!
Some schools have implemented lab management software, such as Classe365, to allow the teacher to view all student screens on the instructor monitor. While this can be effective for ensuring that students remain on task, I would encourage anyone using this software to look around the physical space of the classroom as well. One potential affordance of such an application is that the instructor can share student work on the projector in real time. However, I think that most lab management issues can be handled without software by setting up the space appropriately. As discussed in the previous section, downloaded software applications like Classe365 also require regular updates which can be challenging to maintain in a school setting if teachers do not have administrative network permissions.
Freeze & Reflect (2.2a):
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