We need your help!
The school is creating a space out of our former computer lab to support differentiated instruction and multiple intelligences. Its purpose is to provide an area in which single or multiple classes can set up for longer term projects. We hope to provide learning opportunities in the multiple intelligences; one such example is to support musical intelligence by creating a studio for Garageband and/or podcasting. Other ideas would be to provide easels for visual learners and math manipulatives for tactile/kinesthetic learners.
We have eight iMac/eMac computers for use in the Project Room. However, we have questions as to how they will be situated in the room. 
This is the view from the entryway. Should we put computers along the far edge of the room to keep them out of the way, or put the computers prominently in the middle of the room?
We have a carpeted area where we would like to put art easels. This angle shows how the room tapers to a smaller area around the windows. One bonus in this room is the air conditioning!
These two pictures show the entrance and the actual space where we would like to set up a studio for video/podcasting and Garageband. Any suggestions/hints for newbies to studio design?
The room will be equipped with a television linked to our cable hookup, math manipulatives, and chess boards.
No…we’re not experiencing structural problems. That’s just Rick, our intrepid vice-principal and co-conspirator.
We welcome any and all advice on our endeavour. Thanks!
2 responses so far ↓
1
Joanna Sanders Bobiash
// Sep 12, 2006 at 10:21 pm
I just had a thought. It might be off the wall, but here it goes…
If it is suppose to be a room with stations, could you potentially have six or so tables situated in different spots in the room (maybe three on each of two walls?) that a group of students could sit around but that at one end is a computer. That way, if the lesson or project had a technology component, the students could work together at the computer or use the computer to work on the lesson/project/problem/webquest while having space for them to use other materials. That would leave room for other things to happen in the room, (maybe another couple of tables that could be moved around for other projects) along with potentially a couple of other computers at single work stations to be used by students who work better on their own or on individual projects. If the manipulatives are stored in caddies, they could be rolled around the room to be used by the groups working at the tables.
2
tpon
// Sep 13, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Thanks, Joanna, for your suggestions.
Your point about the computers being along the walls is well-taken. Unless our older iMacs can be retrofitted to provide wireless access to the network, I don’t think that we want cabling to be hanging from the ceiling, or strung along the floor.
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