Handbook Table of Contents > Preparing to Teach > Classrooms
Indiana University Teaching Handbook
Preparing to Teach
Classrooms
Adapted with permission from University of Tennessee, 1986
Before your first class meeting, you should check the rooms where you will be teaching. Look at the way the rooms are organized. Seating is a prime consideration, and it can do a great deal to either facilitate or hinder what goes on in your classroom. The traditional rule of thumb is to make sure that students are clearly within the instructor’s range of vision.
Remember that you may be able to manipulate seating to foster any number of effects from closeness to conflict. There are any number of ways to arrange seating. You’ll want to experiment and solicit suggestions from students. For example, if you want to encourage discussion, place desks or chairs in a circle or horseshoe. This arrangement facilitates the give-and-take of conversation, as students can see one another when they talk. Students are also much more likely to get to know one another in a face-to-face seating arrangement and are more apt to stay attentive throughout the hour, as it is more difficult to withdraw or “space out” from a circle without being noticed. If you plan to lecture, arrange the furniture so that all students can easily see you without straining. Ask your students to comment upon present arrangements and on what would be useful for them.
Good environments are frequently flexible ones. Feel free to have students move their chairs several times during a class. For example, you might have them move into a circle for discussion, into small groups for in-depth exploration of a topic, and back to rows for your lecture. Experiment with different room arrangements to find those that work best for you (adapted with permission from Ronkowski, 1986).
If you plan to have students work in groups but your assigned room has fixed chairs, you may have to be especially creative in grouping students. Asking students in a given row to stand, face students in the row behind, and pair off, is one way to manage the situation. Allowing students to gather in corners of the room, or even to go outside to meet (with a deadline for returning) can also be a successful way of dealing with the limitation.
In some newer and remodeled buildings, classrooms have dry marker boards instead of the more traditional chalk. Check with your department or the building manager to see where you can get the right kind of erasable markers.
If there is a problem, the room might be changed. Follow your department’s policy for obtaining a room change. Ordinarily the office to contact is Classroom Scheduling, 855-2489. Your departmental scheduling officer may also be helpful if you need to change your classroom.
