Comments on: New flexible classroom design

By: Piman

Piman — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:19:20 +0000

As long as it enjoys the work. (Else being a slave might be no fun; unethical. And plenty of mistakes like this will probably happen, as people adjust to the new technologies).

By: Mr.X

Mr.X — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:16:26 +0000

I guess the colonies lag behind more than I thought.But ,at least I know now what I have to think when some of these settlers start making a big fuss about their “creativity” again.Still a long way to go haha^^

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 23:22:28 +0000

Headline corrected

By: Jason F

Jason F — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 19:14:01 +0000

One of the causes of “shyness” among older students in the US is the current seating arrangements that we have in schools. If we were to use this new seating method, starting with the younger age groups and working up towards high schools, we would most likely notice a reduction in awkwardness among students. These students would have been made accustomed to social interaction from a young age and thus be more likely to be comfortable in a communal environment. Furthermore it is a known fact that facing others makes you more likely to be free with your thoughts, feelings, and opinions. This seating arrangement is a good thing.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 16:53:58 +0000

As a student I find that engaging curriculum is more important for stimulating neuron development than classroom layout. However I enjoy the interaction of looking people in the face when engaging in discusion. It is a valuable ability to look people in the eye when talking to them. This is a characteristic that is being lost in American culture. I also agree with MikeB that using chalk makes more sense than contributing to global destruction through the use of dry-erase boards.

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 10:29:04 +0000

Yes, exactly. Big Dog with a brain. “Fetch!”

By: Sue Tamani

Sue Tamani — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 07:46:04 +0000

Since starting to teach in 1967 here in Australia, I don’t remember ever having “rows of desks” all facing the front. And I have taught students from 5 to 18 years old plus adults in Technical colleges.

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 07:08:17 +0000

I think the real benefit of ubiquitious robots will be to eliminate the need to make children into robots. Once that burden is lifted, schools will have no purpose and children will be free to develop their intelligence and creativity, learning only what they need, and doing it at high speed via Internet-based speed learning. People of the future will look in horror at compulsory education as absurd and barbaric.

Note: I hope to have time to write about what I have discovered about self-managed speed learning. For example, I discovered that children can instantly speak Spanish rapidly and fluently and learn it at high speed while running around throwing balls and screaming, but only if they didn’t have exposure to a school language course (virtual lobotomy) and only while they were having fun (“no more teachers’ dirty looks”) and not trying to “learn” (go into robot mode) anything.

I think this method could be extended to any subject via a combination of VR with full-body motion sensing in a simulator and videogame elements.

By: WLGJR

WLGJR — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 02:10:40 +0000

Obedience. That’s what we want to hardwire into the future superhuman AIs.
Imagine a superhuman slave, who does everything better than you yet follow all your orders.

By: OsirisX

OsirisX — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 01:15:59 +0000

So true. Question nothing, just do what we say little future worker bee. You guys rock. Enjoying the comments.

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:49:19 +0000

Great Comment! More robots for the machine! :)

By: Cybernettr

Cybernettr — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 19:36:58 +0000

A classroom where all the students face each other would make things really hard on the shyer students. The ones who may excel now might be put at a serious disadvantage under such an arrangement.

By: MikeB

MikeB — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 14:18:54 +0000

50 years ago … instead of white boards, there were chalk boards … more eco-friendly as you weren’t always throwing away felt and plastic cylinders. not sure that chalk dust is bad for your lungs.

By: Spotted Marley

Spotted Marley — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 10:20:54 +0000

Looks like they’ll be used to their cubicles by the time they graduate school. Perfect!

By: Percival

Percival — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 08:47:54 +0000

Indeed, it seems like a misnomer to call it new. In all my years at school I never saw a classroom with a “rigid row-column design”. Putting wheel to the legs of the tables is the only improvement. I’m sure there’s some zealous type out there ready to pounce with the magic ‘R’ word.

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 07:32:27 +0000

Right, good observations. The real purpose of compulsory education appears to be creating good little efficient workers and obedient citizens, for whom pain is to be expected and accepted.

By: Simon

Simon — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 06:44:21 +0000

Those chairs look like they’re about 20 years old and specifically designed to cause back pain. Also, the chaotic, cramped arrangement of the furniture in the picture can’t be good for learning. (The two students sharing a tiny desk in the corner closest to the camera better be legless and not wanting to use anything but a small calculator.)

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 02:19:12 +0000

The researcher was focused on older students with laptops.

By: Patricia Napolitano

Patricia Napolitano — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:03:02 +0000

Elementary school teachers have been rearranging desks and chairs into circles or squares, breaking classes into smaller groups of students, as well as using “learning stations” for decades! Duh!

By: Aaron Wright

Aaron Wright — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:50:10 +0000

This is nothing new. When I was in high school we had all of this, including the white boards and projectors.

By: Arctic Poppy

Arctic Poppy — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:35:47 +0000

Really? with rolling chairs, white boards and desks? You were in the minority then.

By: Talita

Talita — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:05:38 +0000

I went to school in Brazil in the 60′s. your innovation was our everyday class. Is this serious?

By: steve

steve — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:39:13 +0000

On what planet is turning your desks to face each other considered an innovative design? what next from these geniuses at NCSU?? lead based writing implements !!!

By: René Milan

René Milan — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:24:29 +0000

Cutting edge !
Is this the retro-edition of KAI ?
When i was in 6th grade over 50 years ago, we started using this sort of design.