Sydney Wilk

Return to: ETAP 623 Spring 2020 (Zhang) Sydney Wilk Mini-Course

About Me

Hi All! My name is Sydney Wilk and this is my third semester in the CDIT program. I have an undergraduate degree in both Communications and English from the University at Albany. I currently work for the Professional Development Program at the University at Albany. Within my department, Early Childhood Training, I am able to see a variety of trainings that are created and accessible for daycare and school-aged child care providers. I have a passion for distance learning and creating a positive space for online students.

My Topic and Purpose

The purpose of this mini-course is to explore the topic of flexible seating and how it can be incorporated within the classroom, no matter the budget or space. Positives and negatives of flexible seating will be studied, as well as how to know if flexible seating is the right choice for your classroom. We will also take a look at what students think of flexible seating and how we can ensure that the classroom is a productive space. Students will develop a mock argument at the end of the course through a PowerPoint presentation either for or against flexible seating. The goal of this course is to learn more about a new style of learning within the classroom, as well as how it was created and how to to ensure it works best for different learning styles and behaviors.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify what flexible seating is and the history behind the learning environment
• Students will be able to list the positives and negatives to flexible seating
• Students will be able to strategize how to put together a flexible seating classroom on a budget
• Students will be able to determine if flexible seating is a good fit for their personal classroom through a mock argument

Needs Assessment

Problem

For many years, classrooms have looked identical with the way the desks are organized for students to sit at within the classroom. Typically, each student has the same desk and chair for the entire year. Often more times than not, students are sitting in their chairs for a long period of time behind a desk without getting up to move. This has created an issue within the classroom because students are losing focus and interest in the lessons being taught. When students are losing the motivation to learn, their educational experience is negatively effected. As a way to solve this issue of seating, flexible seating was created.

What is to be learned

Learners in this course will develop an understanding of what flexible seating is and how it can be incorporated in any classroom on any budget. Learners will have be given resources to start their own flexible seating plan, as well as the pros and cons to having this style within the classroom. We will discuss the history of flexible seating as well to gain an understanding of how this plan was originally developed.

The Learners

Participants within this course will be students within an education major during their undergraduate years at college. There is no pr-req to this course. This course will also be open to in-service teachers.

Instructional Context

For the instruction section of this course, students will need access to the Internet via a computer, cell phone, or tablet. There will be PowerPoints to watch, as well as thoughts journals and mini-lectures.

Exploring the Problem and Solution

Within many school districts, students are losing interest being in the classroom. As they sit in a desk for many hours during the day, it can be hard to keep their attention and ensure each student is motivated. In order to get students moving around and excited to be in the classroom, flexible seating has been introduced. With flexible seating, students can pick a variety of ways to sit with different types of chairs. Whether it's a bean bag or lawn chair, students are given the opportunity to try new ways of learning all based on how and where they sit inside the classroom.

Goals

In order to consider this course a success, my goal is to ensure each student has a clear understanding of flexible seating and how it can be incorporated within the classroom. It's important that students can discuss the history of flexible seating as well as if it's a positive or negative to their own classroom setting.

Analysis of the Learner and Context

The Learners

Within this course, the learners will be students taking courses to be a teacher looking to learn more about different classroom layouts. Specifically, the learners will be studying the correlation between the classroom set up and if this influences a students learning in a positive way. This course will give students resources to use for their own classroom as well as ideas to keep in mind for when they have their own classroom.

Learner Analysis

When entering this course, learners will not need to have any prior knowledge on the topic of flexible seating. Students entering this course should be an education major or have experience within a classroom grades K-12. This course is open to in-service teachers as well.

Context for Instruction

Learners in this course will participate by completing worksheets, learning journals, and by watching PowerPoint presentations. After completing the activities, these assignments will be graded and feedback will be provided to further students understanding. There will also be an assessment within units 1 and 4 to see how much students knew before and after this course on the topic of flexible seating.

Performance-Based Objectives

After completing this mini-course, students will be able to:

• Explain what the idea of flexible seating is and the history behind it
• Demonstrate how to set up a flexible seating classroom
• Determine whether or not a flexible seating classroom is a correct choice for their students
• Explore alternatives to flexible seating for their own classroom

Task Analysis

Unit 1: What is flexible seating and what does it look like?

• Students will explore how flexible seating was started and by whom
• Students will be able to describe what flexible seating is and the philosophy behind it

Unit 2: How can flexible seating be achieved?

• Students will research what flexible seating looks like within different classroom types individually
• Students will complete assignments on how different grade levels and subjects may use flexible seating as a group

Unit 3: Creating your own flexible seating classroom plan.

• Students will create their own project on flexible seating based on their interests as individuals
• Students will explore how students can be teachers and teachers can be students
• Students will develop ways to test if flexible seating works for students in different settings

Unit 4: Determining if flexible seating is right for your classroom.

• Students will collaborate as a group and create a mock argument or why or why not flexible seating works via PowerPoint

Curriculum Map

Full Map Google Docs Chart Here

Curriculum Map

Flexible Seating Within the K-12 Classroom

↓ Learning Goal: To explore the topic of flexible seating and how it can be incorporated within the classroom, no matter the budget or space. Positives and negatives of flexible seating will be studied, as well as how to know if flexible seating is the right choice for your classroom.

↓ Unit 1: What is flexible seating

Students will explore how flexible seating was started and by whom

Students will be able to describe what flexible seating is and the philosophy behind it

↓ Unit 2: How can flexible seating be achieved?

Students will research what flexible seating looks like within different classroom types individually

Students will complete assignments on how different grade levels and subjects may use flexible seating as a group

↓ Unit 3: Creating your own flexible seating plan

Students will create their own project on flexible seating based on their interests as individuals

Students will explore how students can be teachers and teachers can be students

Students will develop ways to test if flexible seating works for students in different settings

↓ Unit 4: Determining if flexible seating is right for your classroom

Students will collaborate as a group and create a mock argument or why or why not flexible seating works via PowerPoint

References and Resources

Allen, C. (2018). Flexible seating: Effects of student seating type choice in the classroom (Order No. 10812813). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (2061668236). Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.libproxy.albany.edu/docview/2061668236?accountid=14166

Havig, J., Conn, D., Kana, E., & Morris, T. (2017). Advantages and Disadvantages of Flexible Seating (ProQuest Dissertations Publishing). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1942412260/

Kennedy, M. (2017). Seat yourself: Providing students a variety of seating choices in a classroom helps enhance learning opportunities. American School & University, 89(8), 26-28.