THEN + NOW
THEN With desks neatly in a row, the Class of 1962 spent its school days learning in rooms, such as this one from the mid-1950s, that were the epitome of a traditional classroom space. NOW Today St. Martin’s students learn in a variety of classroom environments, many with flexible seating options. Third grade teacher Barbara Weaver’s class features a mixture of traditional student desks, soft rugs, comfortable floor pillows, lap desks, a large standing table, and short stools. “Giving students the privilege of choosing where and how to work helps them to take on more responsibility,” says Weaver. Today’s classroom spaces are designed in a student-centered manner, focusing on supporting student learning. Some classrooms continue to use more conventional models for lecture and seminartype courses, while other classrooms are structured in a way that allows teachers and students to modify seating arrangements and match arrangements with the demands of classroom activities.
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Shifting away from desks results in students working together more and finding ways to share the space, which means they are learning the essential skills of collaboration and communication. — BARBARA WEAVER
Fall/Winter 2018 | 67
