My Dream Classroom by Ashton

My Dream Classroom by Ashton - July 2020 Scholarship Essay

My dream classroom consists of a group of students who are eager to learn, and a teacher who is passionate about teaching. My classroom would have smaller numbers, and be roundtable-style, with the professor sitting in with the students. The curriculum would be challenging enough to push students to be their very best, but not too difficult that it pushes them away from learning. To me, this is the perfect classroom.
When it comes to education, I think that the professor could make or break someone’s education. Students can quickly pick up if a professor really loves what they’re doing, which feeds into how the student reacts to them and the curriculum. I have had my share of both styles of professors, and I can certainly say that it affected the way that I learned. For one, I was always excited to go to class. I never looked at my watch and contemplated not going, because the professor made me, as a student, feel wanted, and that my input in the classroom was wanted. When a professor teaches in a rather dull manner, to the student it seems as though we aren’t valued. In turn, then, students feel less motivated to do the coursework. In order to have a functioning classroom, it requires first having a functioning professor.
But next, you also need a student who is eager to learn from that passionate professor. Openmindedness is incredibly important when obtaining an education, especially in a course that is difficult. It is important for the student to understand that there will be times where they don’t understand the material, and it’s okay. But, if they have the above professor who is seen as approachable to the students, then they are more likely to speak up and ask for help. It starts to become a two-way road between the professor and the student.
This classroom would be taught in a smaller setting, with no more than fifteen students in this room. By ensuring that the class is kept to small numbers, it allows the professor to really get to know the students and make those connections with them. In turn, students feel less like another number, and more like a real person. When it comes to formatting this class, the desks would be replaced with tables that can be fixed into a circle or rectangle shape, This makes sure that every student can see each other, and allows for a better discussion. The professor sits in on these discussions, but mainly to help guide and ignite conversations. Of course, there would still be assignments, but no tests. To me, summative tests over a subject are more harmful than beneficial to the student. In the replacement of tests, there would only be essays to write that would be graded as if they were tests.
The best way to format the curriculum in this course would be in a discussion style. The class would have an assignment due for the next meeting, and then they come together to discuss their readings or findings. It would be a productive environment, where all ideas are seen as valid, and where we can build off of one another. The professor would engage in these discussions, but leave the majority of the speaking to the students.
The reason why this is my dream classroom is that I had a course that fit this very description. In my Fall 2020 semester, I took a course that quickly became my favorite for the reasons above. The course material was just challenging enough to make us think, it was a roundtable discussion, twelve-person class, with a professor who was eager to teach and loved what he did with the students. This course made me feel wanted and that my opinions were validated. If I could have every single course fit this description, I would. I never skipped that class and felt comfortable to visit my professor’s office hours. This course helped me, a student, get a great education. That is why this is an ideal classroom setting.