#8 The Set-up

Wouldn't it nice to have the lower picture's set-up in your classroom? Well, you can't, because:

a) we don't have that kind of space
b) we don't NEED that kind of space

Believe it or not, the best classroom set-up for technology - in my humble opinion - is where all the desks are facing the same way!

But... but if the students desks are facing the back of the classroom... and the teacher's desk is at the FRONT of the classroom... how do you know what the students are doing on the laptop??

Conventional wisdom says that computers that are facing all directions ensure a focused environment since teachers will be walking around the class from bell to bell.

Well, I hate walking around class from bell to bell. By the end of the day, it's exhausting. So, work smarter, not harder.

If all the students computers are facing the same direction - the BACK wall - then place a chair in the back of the room so that you can see all computers at the same time!

But... but what if you want to demonstrate something on the projection screen. Wouldn't you have to walk up to the FRONT of the classroom to control your computer?

NO. Get a key span remote. Your tech administrator should have several on hand to loan out. Key span remotes are just like hitting the EASY button.

Now, I can sit in the back of class, control my computer for demo's on the projection screen, and I can see what my whole class is doing.

If you've got a better set up for laptops in the classroom, I'm all ears!!

Oh, and no, that's not my classroom in the pic. You can tell because that guy is standing up front like a dummy (and only a few of his students have a laptop).