Rows signal a teacher-led lesson...
How can we encourage more collaboration, creativity, and less "singing and dancing" from the teacher?
How can we push for pupil participation?
- "Goldfish bowl" or inner circle/outer circle - used for Socratic debate; teacher as participator. Entirely student led.
- "Cabaret" layout - This has small groups of students sitting around individual group tables. It works well for small group discussion and is easy to set up without rearranging the whole room. The cabaret layout is ideal for running a 'marketplace' activity. http://www.talkscience.org.uk/techniques/4.aspx http://teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk/index.php/2006/02/23/collaborative-learning/
- "Horse-shoe" layout - good for discussions; all students can see teacher.
"World Cafe" concept -
World Cafe is a participative process which enables people to have creative conversations while sitting cafe-style around small tables. Paper table cloths are often used so that the ideas and issues which emerge from the conversations can be recorded. After about 20-30 minutes, people move to a new table and the conversation continues. One member of the initial group will remain at the table to host the new conversation and help to build links between the different strands. Three rounds are usual.
- Classroom as "theatre" - create a stage area.
- Classroom as court-room.
- Classroom as theme park..?
- Classroom as cinema - students could watch film clips; the volume turned down as they fill in voice-over; listen to sound & music only as they jot down ideas for story-board; watch film clip for descriptive writing - see "Lucy through the wardrobe" idea; or watch groups act out scenes from a book/film.
- Classroom as computer game..? See Tim Rylands' blog: http://www.timrylands.com/watch-and-listen/ He usually sits among the class, playing the game "Myst" with them, working to develop literacy skills.
- Classroom as "museum"
- Classroom as "crime scene". http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/for-csi-read-classroom-scene-investigation-1890548.html?action=Gallery
- Classroom as "research zone"; "investigation zone" or "learning centre" - get the students to actively use wall displays to find out information relevant to the lesson. Get them out of their seats! NB "Words for Work" sounds interesting: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/news/1747_the_first_words_for_work_workshop_gets_the_thumbs_up_from_pupils
