Change the Classroom, Change the Learning

Maria H. Andersen, Ph.D.Muskegon Community CollegeTeachingCollegeMath.com

busynessgirl@gmail.comTwitter: busynessgirl

Major Variables in Classroom Learning

Instructors

ClassroomStudents

What do the classrooms say?

What instructions do they send to the

students?

Instructors are encouraged to have students engage in

more active learning…

But the classrooms send a very clear

message …

Prepare for Lecture

What if the classroom sends a different

message?

Math ELITEs

EngagedLearningInteractiveTechnologyEnvironment

Ingredients(in order of importance)

Walls full of whiteboardsHalf-round TablesDoc Camera / ProjectorComputer & SpeakersSMART board

Lots of Whiteboards

Tip: One student in each pair “Travels” every two problems (we call these students the “Travelers”).

Half-round Tables(kidney-shaped tables)

Tip: The tables make it easier to quickly get to the boards.

Here’s the same room with just the boards, no half-round tables.

Document Camera

Did you notice the

video camera?

How to get your own Math ELITE

Method 1:Boiled Frog Method

(baby steps)

Treasure Valley Community College

West Shore Community College

Method 2:Dream Big!

(submit a budget request)

Identify the target!(justify that it is mostly used for math anyways)

A Picture is Worth 1000 words … seriously.

Include a Diagram

Ask for Two Rooms(come on, you know why)

Line up a group of users(Is anyone REALLY going to want to use these rooms? I mean, math teachers just lecture.

They’re going to hate them.)

NAME the Rooms

“This year the college built a new Student One-stop and two Math

ELITE Classrooms.”

(administrators like to show off new classrooms)

Questions?

Maria H. Andersen, Ph.D.Muskegon Community CollegeTeachingCollegeMath.com

busynessgirl@gmail.comTwitter: busynessgirl