There is a simple guiding concept:  the teacher must be able to see the screen of every laptop while they are active. This eliminates many popular configurations such as circles. I encourage teachers to wrestle honestly with this question before setting up any classroom:  Do you want to manage student laptop use, or are students free to surf on their own?  We have enough experience now to know that every audience,  child or adult, will divide its attention between you and the screen if they have the opportunity to do so, so you either plan for it or control it.
  My room has projector screen at one end, and all student desks face this screen.  Most of the time I am at the back of the room, where I can see student screens and manage the big screen.  I ask students  to turn around (away from their screens) when I need full attention.  It works pretty well.

From: Laura Girr <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Reply-To: ACTEM Integrators <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:40:10 -0500
To: <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Subject: Room Arrangement

Hi all,
I would like to find some examples of effective classroom furniture layouts for 1 to 1 high school classes. Have any of you seen a discussion of this?  Do you have some teachers who have rearranged their furniture optimally for use with laptops?

I feel like we need a combination of different furniture (smaller desks and stands that can support document cameras, projectors, speakers)  and different room arrangements so that teachers can sees screen's easier. But I am having trouble finding examples to show my staff.

Thanks for any info!

Laura Girr

Technology Integrator
Freeport High School (RSU #5)
30 Holbrook St.
Freeport, Maine 04032
(207)865-4706 x112