In today’s demanding classroom environments, educators need to be able to have the best seating arrangements for different size classrooms and learning environments.
Moreover, it’s been demonstrated that amplified sound – provided either via ceiling speakers or multimedia podiums – can also contribute to more effective learning.
Boost Effective Learning with Best Classroom Seating Arrangements, Amplified Sound & Multimedia Podium Options:
Seating Arrangements
Every teacher likes to arrange his or her classroom layout for the largest student benefit. Students need to focus and see what is going on in the classroom at any given time. Their seating arrangement can help or hinder a students learning. Although no perfect arrangement exists for all situations, a classroom layout may need to change based on what a student needs are and how the class material is being presented.
It is important for an instructor to establish a classroom structure from the very first session and adapt accordingly to facilitate lectures, promote discussions, encourage group activities, or solve any behavioral problems. Keeping a classroom motivated and in order is more than trying different teaching styles and methods. By simply rearranging how the desks in the room are setup, you can not only get better control of your class but create an open and friendly classroom environment.
There are generally three overall classroom desk arrangement layouts with slight variations to each to accommodate different size rooms, number of students in the class and also assist in the classes function:
- Traditional Classroom (Large or Small)
- U-Shaped Layout
- Circle or Half Circle Arrangements
Each layout has a different purpose and may require an adjustment to teaching method and classroom control. It will be up to the instructor to decide which layout works best for them and their students.
Traditional Classroom
In a traditional class all the desks are facing the chalkboard and teachers desk. This classroom layout is very effective if your lesson often uses projectors, slides and a chalkboard. The layout is suitable for teacher centered classes such as lectures, it encourages focus on the educator and content and is easy to implement with large classes.
The problem with this layout is that the teacher is very far away from students sitting in the back rows. Students sitting in the last rows are more likely to be distracted, lose focus and converse with others. Students can easily become disengaged during the lesson. This layout is not useful for classes designed for conversation and interaction and not easy for the instructor to observe students in the mid and back rows.
Large Classroom
The AmpliVox Multimedia Smart Podium is a great presentation center for large classrooms.
It has a roomy work space, plus storage for technology
and learning materials, with locking protection.
Built-in amplified sound options provide excellent sound coverage in rooms up to 20,000 square feet, with wired
or wireless mic options.
It has a roomy work space, plus storage for technology
and learning materials, with locking protection.
Built-in amplified sound options provide excellent sound coverage in rooms up to 20,000 square feet, with wired
or wireless mic options.
Small Classroom
Variations of Small Classroom
The AmpliVox Multimedia Computer Lectern is a great presentation center for small classrooms.
It has a small footprint, yet provides a lot of storage with locking protection, plus a drop-leaf shelf for projector or other multimedia equipment.
Built-in amplified sound options provide excellent sound coverage in small rooms or large, with wired or wireless mic options.
It has a small footprint, yet provides a lot of storage with locking protection, plus a drop-leaf shelf for projector or other multimedia equipment.
Built-in amplified sound options provide excellent sound coverage in small rooms or large, with wired or wireless mic options.
U-Shaped Layout
For smaller classes that want more interaction between the student and educator, a U-Shaped layout is a better option. A U-Shaped desk arrangement encourages discussion and makes it easy for the teacher to observe students and provide one on one help.
Classroom size and number of students can make it difficult to use, for you may not be able to fit a U-Shape pattern in a small room with a large number of students. The layout spreads children out considerably so that it can be hard to address them all and makes group work harder because the desks can’t easily be moved around.
Variations of U-Shaped
The AmpliVox 2.4 GHz Universal Wireless Microphone is an excellent amplified speaking option for U-Shaped seating configurations, as it gives the presenter or presenters the freedom to roam around the room and fully engage with the audience as well as the presentation materials.
Its receiver plugs easily into any amplifier, and it can be used as either a headset or handheld mic.
Its receiver plugs easily into any amplifier, and it can be used as either a headset or handheld mic.
Circle or Half Circle Arrangements
Desks or chairs arranged in a circle or half circle promote community and encourage all students to participate. Everyone sits in the front row. It also allows the instructor to see everyone from an equal distance and communicate easier with students.
Variations with Circle of Chairs
The AmpliVox SW925 Digital Audio Travel Partner Plus is a great way to ensure presentation clarity to any gathering of people indoors or out, from a modest group up to a crowd of 7,500.
It includes not only wireless microphone convenience, but also a media player allowing you to play music from a thumb drive or SD card.
Or, stream audio wirelessly from your smartphone or other Bluetooth enabled device.
It includes not only wireless microphone convenience, but also a media player allowing you to play music from a thumb drive or SD card.
Or, stream audio wirelessly from your smartphone or other Bluetooth enabled device.
Designing a seating arrangement is an essential part of any teachers toolkit and managing behavior is necessary for effective learning to take place. A classrooms arrangement finally comes down to what will the student learn, how will the student learn it and that should then guide in the organization of the room.
Easy-to-Install Amplified Sound
In addition to using lecterns with sound capability, you can add amplified sound to small or medium sound classrooms with the AmpliVox Classroom Audio System with Wireless Microphone.
This complete, easy-to-install sound system consists of three elements that combine to produce crisp, powerful sound:
1. 4-speaker, 2’ x 2’ ceiling-tile-style speaker that provides 360-degree sound dispersion. It’s easily installed in most standard classroom acoustic ceilings.
2. 7-channel mixer-amplifier that includes an MP3 Player with USB and SD card inputs and Bluetooth connectivity, plus an AM/FM radio for featured programming and emergency broadcasts. There’s an IR remote control.
3. 2.4 GHz universal digital wireless microphone with a receiver that simply plugs into the mixer-amplifier. The microphone can be used as either a headset, or handheld.
To install the system, simply insert the 4-speaker ceiling tile and run the wiring through the ceiling to the mixer-amplifier. Plug in the wireless receiver for the microphone, and you can stand up to 50 feet away from the mixer-amplifier.
Communication Tips for School Safety and Education Success
How do you put forth a clear voice and strong image when communicating in and around schools?
Watch this short video for six proven tips.
