Seating Charts That Promote Learning

Seating Charts That Promote Learning

According to the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) at the University of Michigan, there are seven distinct and possible seating arrangements to consider when arranging a room. When deciding which seating arrangement is best for your purposes, it is important to consider two points. First, the instructor should be easily visible to the students at all times. Eliminate any need for students to turn away from their desktops in order to visually follow a teacher or professor. While that seems like a no-brainer, teachers often forget this during the course of teaching and even when class participation is strong, students often find themselves having to twist around in their seats to pay attention to what another student is saying, or to follow a teacher that is moving about the room. Second, keep in mind what the purpose of the class is. A computer class should obviously be situated differently than an art class, etc.

As for the seven seating arrangements, the first is traditional rows. This arrangement is still used in many situations as it gives instructors the opportunity to walk around easily and check on student progress, but in most cases, it visually impairs the students.

Second, clusters. These arrangement works well for small groups, but like tables in a banquet hall, there will always be the need for one or more students to have to turn completely in his/her chair to follow an instructor or listen to a speaker.

Third, specifically for computer desks, tables around the edge of the room facing the walls is one type of arrangement. Again, students must turn to hear a speaker, but if most of the class work is done independently, this can create a nice space-saving environment with few distractions.

Fourth, and very popular, the horseshoe arrangement. This arrangement allows all students to see the teacher and the other students easily without turning more than a quarter turn. The instructor can actually stand closer to all students—something that traditional rows sacrifices for students in the back. The drawback is that it won’t work for large classrooms and doesn’t maximize room space to the fullest.

Fifth, is the circular table arrangement. Computers around the edge of the room facing the walls, with round tables in the middle of the room. This separates the group work done in the “group” environment from the independent work done at the computer. Some prefer this arrangement, as it keeps students engaged during lecture time.

Sixth, peninsulas. These are rows of workspaces facing one another and jutting from the wall opposite the instructor’s station. It allows students to see the instructor fairly clearly and also allows for more computer desks to be added in a single classroom.

Seventh, are L-shaped clusters. This arrangement allows for the benefit of clusters, but provides for better visual connection to the front of the classroom for all students.

Regardless of which arrangement you go with, it’s also important to maximize the use of desks. Different types of desks—other than traditional computer desks—are now very popular. For example, we found well-designed desks such as the Downview Desk which allows for a computer screen to be mounted under the desktop as to prevent obstruction of the student’s view of the teacher. We also found multi-user tables to be comfortable and space-saving. Check out all of these options before deciding which arrangement is best for your classroom.

Tech Gifts To Promote Your Business

Tech Gifts To Promote Your Business

When I was 10 years old, my fifth grade teacher made us write a paper that answered the question, “What does the year 2000 look like to you?” Back then I was fully anticipating a future filled with all the gadgets and doodads I had seen on the Jetson’s. I wrote about the flying cars, the assembly line of morning rituals and the robot maid, Rosie. I was completely convinced that by the year 2000, we would all be living in huge high-rise apartments with flying cars, hovercrafts, and jet packs. Well the year 2000 came and past and it looked nothing like my paper. Although, now in 2007, we don’t yet have those flying cars and interactive robot maids, we do have some pretty amazing technological gadgets that have expanded and enhanced both the consumer market and, more importantly, the promotional products industry.

With all the technological advances over the past ten years, the consumer market has created and designed entirely new products available for everyday use. Innovations like the cell phone and even DVD player have revolutionized the way people think, shop and want because companies and businesses face them with more and more options. “Technology is an extremely popular category and has a much more condensed life cycle, with new products and subcategories cropping up daily. Not only has the technology category expanded from flash drives to digital photo frames and computer accessories, technology has impacted other categories…. Writing instruments have become hybrids with the laser pointer, stylus and even USB pens,” explained Lindsay Hoylman, marketing specialist of Leed’s.

For the promotional product industry this means that companies not only have more and better products to provide to their audiences, but also it makes the industry as a whole more mainstream, said Jeff Lederer, vice president of Prime Line in a recent article called “It’s Evolution, Baby.” This article also says that technology products like iPod and mp3 accessories are as popular in the promotional product industry as in the retail market. Technology products can therefore help your campaign and company fit the needs and wants of a more advanced audience. With the overall increase in products, you can bolster the effectiveness of your entire campaign within a larger, more hi-tech consumer group. This also makes your company more current and aware of the changing market in the minds of the audience.

Products like mp3 player accessories, USB drives and digital camera accessories represents some of the most popular items to use in a promotional product and marketing campaign. They all provide plenty of space for logos and branded messages. They are all current and hot items in the market which gives your brand a trendy feel to the audience. This updated image can improve the overall perception and image of your company, thus making you a desirable and usable brand. With increased use and product satisfaction, your brand will have an overwhelming positive effect on the target and set you ahead of the competition.