If you have not heard of FloorPlanner.com I suggest you take a couple of minutes out of your day and check it out. This online resource allows you create and furnish your very own classroom, and it is way more fun than it should be (so allot yourself a good portion of the day to par-ooze around). For one of my Visual Arts Assignments, we were instructed to create a classroom that included the following:
After I had tinkered around with the site (I won't tell you have long it actually took me to finally close the website..) I finally came up with a layout and design that I thought was attainable and functional. My ideal classroom, meeting the above criteria, looks something like the image below:
- seating for 25 students
- 3 paint pick up stations
- 2-4 buckets (for paint cleanup)
- a place to do class demonstrations
- posters or procedures to support students
- one trapezoid table
After I had tinkered around with the site (I won't tell you have long it actually took me to finally close the website..) I finally came up with a layout and design that I thought was attainable and functional. My ideal classroom, meeting the above criteria, looks something like the image below:
In the write up that accompanied this floor plan, I talked a little about the placement of my furniture and why I chose the location that I did. Overall I think that this was a very fun and engaging, but educational and informational assignment as it got me thinking about more than lesson plans and educational resources. Being able to design your classroom in a way that is both interesting and functional can sometimes be a task and is often overlooked in the grand scheme of things. I am happy I was shown this resource, as it has prepared me for some of the future endeavours of being a teacher! I suggest you try it out, you will not be sorry!
To try it out for yourself, visit: http://floorplanner.com
To try it out for yourself, visit: http://floorplanner.com