a. b.

Describe the physical arrangement (include space, equipment, and materials) of one observed classroom. List the types of educational activities observed in one classroom

In the lecture based class on the video, the students are seated at each table and the teacher physically sits in each seat to ensure that each student will have the necessary line of sight to view the boards and overheads as used in the class. All seats are on one side of the table facing the board with space in between the rows for teacher access for individualized help. In this particular class with lab stations, the tables are able to be quickly rearranged by older students to foster group activity. The educational activity viewed in the first classroom with the non-traditional seating arrangement of three desks to a group showed cooperative learning along with teacher facilitated learning through personal interaction by the teacher with the groups. The teacher is able to give instructions and use the easel to prompt the activity.

a. b.

Analyze the teachers possible purpose for one observed classroom arrangement. Describe the level of student engagement with the lesson in one observed classroom.

One purpose for the non-traditional classroom arrangement is to allow free movement for the teacher between groups. It is easier for the teacher to access each group and not only participate in prompting their learning but it allows the teacher to assess their understanding. By having the students work together, hopefully placing students with varying degrees of competency the students can begin to share understanding and points of view to more thoroughly grasp a lesson. The student engagement in the non-traditional seating arrangement is high, you can hear students discussing the subject matter in the background and reinforcement is carried out by the teacher visiting each group. The classroom setting obviously fosters participation; it does not seem at all stifling.
a. Explain the purpose of classroom arrangement as it relates to instructional design.

It is important to know and understand your physical classroom as well as your teaching style in order to optimize your classroom space. The classroom arrangement must support your teaching style. For example if you are a lecture based teacher it is important to ensure that your students have maximum visibility. You would not want to have students with their backs to you while you are lecturing. Or if you are a teacher who really likes to have students work in small groups on a regular basis, you would not want to waste precious class time by having to change the seating to make those groups daily. Access to materials and the flow of traffic must be taken

into consideration to prevent congestion in high traffic areas such as computer stations. The teacher also needs to be able to see the students from all areas of the class.