The Typical Classroom Doesn't Work for Every Learning Experience by Sara

The Typical Classroom Doesn't Work for Every Learning Experience by Sara - July 2020 Scholarship Essay

As a sign language interpreting student, my dream classroom looks a bit different than your typical everyday classroom. The fact of the matter is that your typical classroom is created for a completely different learning experience in mind. The rows upon rows of desks and chairs one after another in a skinny, poorly lit classroom works fine for lecture-based classes, but for interactive visual majors such as sign language interpreting, or Deaf education, accommodations are needed.
Desks and chairs have to be moved every class period to form a large half circle around the room so everyone can see each other. Classrooms with windows are typically better as they provide better light. Classrooms where the projector or white board are in strange spots don’t work well because it requires a lot of neck craning when your entire class is sitting in a semi-circle.
This is why my dream classroom would account for all these accommodations needed for this type of learning experience. In my dream classroom, the tables or desks would already form a semi-circle around the room, and large windows would line one of the walls allowing easy visual access and providing sufficient light. Desks and chairs would also have wheels to make them easy to move around and rearrange the classroom if needed. Chairs would also have cushions on the seats to make them more comfortable and prevent distractions and the inability to focus because of how uncomfortable the students are.
The classroom would allow for a small number of students, a maximum of twenty, with plenty of space around the desks to walk around and easily get to each side of the room without having to squeeze through small gaps in desks. The room would be set up with the semi-circle facing the wider side of the classroom. The whiteboard or projector would be set up in front of the semi-circle with a comfortable place for a teacher to lecture or demonstrate projects from.
As a sign language interpreting major, this type of classroom would be a dream. It would improve my ability to focus and pay attention in class as I wouldn’t be distracted by uncomfortable chairs or the poor lighting. The classrooms I currently attend classes in, often for three hour long classes are terrible for morale. They are dreary and uncomfortable, some only have two outlets in the entire room. Classrooms are so important for the learning experience and I think they truly can impact grades and what you get out of a class. That is why I find these aspects of a classroom so important, especially with such a different type of major that requires accommodations to the classroom setup.