Out of "Snooping Around" comes TEAL classroom setup approach

The project team is currently looking for a classroom design that makes sense for the Maude Burke 1:1 Digital Literacy Project.  We would like this design to be based on theories and methodologies that could be incorporated into our classroom environment.  The "Snooping Around" post, by Bev, has lead us to resources which discuss the TEAL (Technology Enabled Active Learning) approach for organizing classrooms for high-tech delivery.

The TEAL project, originating at MIT, attempts to incorporate "active engagement" (iCampus, 2001) methods through reconstructed classrooms incorporating high-tech communications equipment, desktop experiments and seating arrangements to encourage students to take more active roles in the learning process (Brehm, 2001).  Professor John Belcher identifies classrooms have been revamped, "centered on an active-learning approach in a highly collaborative, hands-on environment with extensive use of desktop experiments and educational technology (Brehm, 2001).

 "The way we are doing this is to lecture a little bit, do problem solving, and do experiments. It's all continuous, it's all in context. And that's a much better way to teach concepts-some theory, then integrated experiments. A big part of this is putting the hands-on stuff back in." — Prof. John Belcher

The restructured TEAL studio classrooms appear to consist of both pedagogical and physical innovations.  Thomas Magnanti (MIT Dean of Engineering) believes the redesigned classroom encourages innovative pedagogy, permitting teaching and learning to occur in exciting new ways (Brehm, 2001).  The physical classroom contains a centralized instructor's workstation, laptop computers, projection equipment, round tables, and wireless microphone.  The revamped classroom environment helps to meet the goal of TEAL which is to, "engage students more fully and help spark student's fascination with the subject matter" (iCampus, 2001).

TEAL Classroom: Image retrieved June 21, 2010 from: http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/projects/icampus/projects/teal.html

  An article titled, "Classroom Desk Arrangement Ideas" (Lewis, 2010), discusses how classroom arrangement choices reflect teacher's goals and philosophy.  How desks are arranged in a classroom indicate what you want to accomplish, and how you want students to interact and learn.  Classic Rows are used in traditional classroom environments with "traditional teacher-centric lessons" (Lewis, 2010).  Cooperative Clusters allow for students to work cooperatively through groups based on student personality and work style.  Horseshoe or U-Shape forces students to face forward for instruction while facilitating whole group discussion.  Full Circle encourages collaboration through sharing ideas and providing feedback.  A final tip in the article by Lewis, encourages teachers to keep their desk arrangement fluid, functional and creative.  Different arrangements may be necessary for different groups of students.  If one arrangement isn't working, don't be afraid to change it.


Post Resources:

•  http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/projects/icampus/projects/teal.html
•  Brehm, 2001.  New classrooms offer high-tech education in physics, mechanical engineering.  http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2001/classroom-1212.html
• Lewis, 2010.  Classroom Desk Arrangement Ideas.  http://k6educators.about.com/od/classroomorganization/p/deskplacement.htm