The New Classroom

Superintendent, Keith T. Larkin, has a digital vision for future classrooms. He feels that classroom will renounce their name as ‘classrooms,’ and take on the new name of ‘learning environments.’ Also, he envisions these ‘learning environments’ to be filled with all sorts of technology. Wireless computers, multimedia presentations, and interactive whiteboards will all inspire learning in the learning environments.

Student learning will be more interactive with the new classroom system compared to the old classroom system. For example, the article states that at the Tracy Learning Center, students view their textbooks and instructions by logging onto a web portal. Viewing books digitally without having to carry around books is a very innovative tool that almost all of the students appreciate.

Teachers will need to adapt more to student needs. Teachers have to make the choice whether or not their best interest is going to be for their students. Teachers can make this choice by staying on task with what resources are available for them to use. Students will be able to have more one-on-one time with computers due to the new digital classrooms (Manzo 3). Classrooms will be changing in the digital age.

Switching from the old classrooms to new the digital learning environment may have both positive and negative effects on education. Many students will be very successful in their academics in the new digital learning environments. However, the switch will be very expensive. Superintendents from all over will have to heavily contemplate on whether or not their school systems are ready to make the change, or if they are even financially able to change.

Unfortunately, the schools who are not able to embrace this new styles may cause some issues. A digital divide may be seen among the schools in which the schools systems cannot afford to make the switch. A digital divide can slow down schools. If the schools are being slowed down due to lack of funds, then students may be slowed down as well as different parts of society.

Manzo, Kathleen. “The New Classroom Look.” EdWeek. 12 Mar. 2010 http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2009/06/17/04classroomlook.h02.html?qs=student+designs&print=1>
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