WORKSHOP TITLE: Architects of Engagement: Designing Classrooms Where Students Thrive
DURATION: 4 hours
FACILITATOR: Sharon Warner
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
Classroom design is a vital pedagogical tool that shapes student engagement, motivation, and achievement. Yet many educators lack the theoretical grounding to create spaces that truly support diverse learners. This workshop empowers teachers to integrate educational theories into the design of inclusive, flexible, and engaging classrooms.
Through interactive activities, participants will evaluate their current environments, apply theory to spatial choices, and collaborate to reimagine classrooms as dynamic ecosystems for learning. Teachers will leave with practical strategies and a renewed vision of their role as designers of thriving learning communities.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Analyze their current classroom environments using theoretical frameworks to assess how spatial elements support or hinder student engagement and learning.
- Design inclusive and flexible learning spaces that accommodate diverse student needs, promote autonomy, and foster collaboration.
- Apply design principles (e.g., zoning, flow, sensory considerations) to create classroom layouts that align with pedagogical goals and enhance learning outcomes.
- Develop an actionable classroom redesign plan that integrates educational theory, student data, and practical constraints.
TARGET POPULATION:
This workshop is designed for teachers across Infant, Primary, and Secondary levels.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
- Floor plan, layout sketch, or recent photos of their current classroom. Student Demographic & Learning Profiles/
- Overview of student needs, including learning styles, special accommodations, and group dynamics.
- Lesson Plans or Unit Samples.
- A few examples of lessons they regularly teach.
- Notebook or Digital Device for taking notes, brainstorming, and participating in design challenges.
- Coloured Pens, Sticky Notes, and Markers for hands-on activities like mapping zones, sketching layouts, and ideation boards.
- Any Classroom Challenges or Goals.
- A brief written reflection on what’s working and what’s not in their current space.