Classroom Setup for a Computer Lab
Before you can start using assistive software in your classroom,
you will likely need to teach the use of the software itself. For
this endeavor, depending on the number of students in the classroom,
you may need use of a computer lab. Teaching computer applications
is a challenge even if your students are computer savvy. One of
the main challenges for an instructor in a computer lab is to keep
the focus of student on the tasks being taught. There is no doubt
that making eye contact with a student is an important component
to effective teaching, but keep in mind that in a computer lab,
the computer is almost always going to win unless you are wearing
something outrageous . I came across the following computer lab
setup on a visit to one of Ontario's Provincial demonstration schools.
The instructor was teaching 15 students with ADD, ADHD, and /or
Learning Disabilities. After some difficulty keeping her students
focused on her lessons, which were primarily taught with the use
of specific assistive software, she decided to place her desk at
the back of the classroom and discovered that this one simple modification
to her classroom helped immensely with her ability to monitor and
assist her students.
In this setup (see figure below) the teachers desk along with computer
and projector is situated at the back of the classroom facing the
same direction as the students' desks.
With the projection screen at the front of the classroom and the
teacher’s desk located at the back of the classroom facing
the projection, an instructor can:
- Have a clear view of what is happening on all the computer
screens in the classroom. This would be particularly useful when
there are several students using different software applications.
- Have the same view of the screen projection that the students
have
- Be able to easily, without interrupting instruction, move toward
a student that is clearly having difficulty with a task
- Be able to identify which students are:
- On the right track
- Falling behind
- Not following the instructions
- Playing computer games, checking emails...
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