I have visited my classroom twice since March 13, 2020. Once during the summer and just two weeks ago to pick up some things before the end of my first remote learning semester. It was surreal. Most of my desks were removed. All my hanging decorations were removed. Anything that could not be easily sanitized had no place in my classroom anymore. There was no place for my metal elephants from my trip to India. There was no place for my bright paper chandeliers from my teaching years in Saudi Arabia. There was no place for my knick-knacks that made my classroom feel like mine.
However, with hardship comes ease. I’m seeing this as an opportunity to reorganize my classroom with specific goals in mind. Is my classroom accessible to all? Is my classroom ready for hybrid learning? Is my classroom ready for all the new technology tools I learned about recently? During my University of St. Francis graduate class about Managing Educational Technology Services, we were required to come up with a plan on how our new classroom will look like. It was a great opportunity to envision a new classroom that my students and I can thrive in when we come back post-pandemic. Here’s my plan!
Let’s start with the basics. All the walls will have whiteboard paint so students can create anywhere. Each table will have comfortable chairs and round tables for face to face discussions. Each table will have an open spot for students who need accessibility. Dimmable lights will help students with light sensitivity. Quiet corners will help students who need that independent work time. Video recording equipment and Google Expeditions will be useful if we ever need to use remote learning tools again. Field trips with Google will be even more convenient when we come back into the classroom and still can see the world. Last but not least, we need air purifying plants that will help keep the classroom clean and create a calm environment in the classroom. Furthermore, green accents around the room will keep the room uniform and also elicit calmness. This will not be easy to accomplish. However, the new classroom cannot be the same as the old. We have learned so many new things and it’s time to utilize that new knowledge to move forward!