Student Involvement Made Possible: the ideal classroom for all education levels by Emily

Student Involvement Made Possible: the ideal classroom for all education levels by Emily - October 2014 Scholarship Essay

The ideal classroom for students in primary and secondary education may not be equally ideal for students pursuing advanced degrees – but the two are more alike than one might think. As I pursue a master’s degree in library and information sciences, my ideal classroom environment is one that would allow everyone to have equally excellent experiences during lectures, participate fully in class discussion, and have the opportunity to practice new skills and concepts on computers within the class period.

Lectures are a big part of most degree programs, and they’re a good way to provide information on a subject that students are just being introduced to. Having everyone together in one room allows for a sense of community and camaraderie among fellow students, and gives everyone the opportunity to ask questions of the lecturer – questions which some may not have thought of, but are happy to hear. Unfortunately, a lecture is only effective when everyone can see the professor and his or her visuals (such as power points, videos, etc.), and can hear everything spoken. To this end, the ideal classroom environment would include a microphone for the professor if the room’s acoustics aren’t ideal, and semi-circle or horse-shoe seating so that everyone had a good view and can engage with their fellow classmates as well as with the professor.

Having the opportunity to practice new skills and concepts on computers or ipads is of great importance, as something explained in a lecture may seem to make perfect sense, but questions pop up as soon as one tries to implement the concept on one’s own. As it can be difficult to move everyone to a computer lab during the class period, the ideal classroom would be equipped with enough ipads for share between students. Without having to physically change locations, time could be given to the students to complete one or two questions related to the relevant skill or concept before moving on in the lesson. Programs are available that allow the professor to change which screen is displayed on the board, so that students could demonstrate how to correctly find the information, or complete the question. This level of interaction would greatly improve instruction at any level, and the ideal classroom would be equipped as necessary to allow professors to make ample use of it in their lessons.