15 Things All Classrooms Should Have PK-12

by Ken Royal

The reality is that most classrooms are far from the ones depicted in the showcase education and technology success stories we read, or hear about daily. Why not? Is it possible that no one has written the list? Let me take care of that right now, and afterwards—somebody get cracking to make it happen! I’m not as patient as I used to be.

Every Classroom Should Have These Things, and Be Like This—PK-12 and Beyond:

1.    An energetic, compassionate, forgiving, curriculum knowledgeable, appropriate technology-using teacher.

2.    A teaching station laptop that plugs in easily at school, but also gets to go home with the teacher after school and weekends. Equip it with graphic, video, presentation, and word processing software.

3.    A classroom set of netbooks, laptops, or similar 1:1—real computing devices that are as reachable as pencils used to be at school. And at the end of day they go home. No smart phones—but having some handhelds as optional equipment for—fieldwork—is a good idea when traveling digitally light.

4.    Safe Internet and Intranet connectivity for both teacher and students at school and home.

5.    An online desktop, curriculum, portfolios, software, and digital tools for teacher and students—that can be accessed anywhere.

6.    An interactive wall of some sort—whiteboard or whiteboard solution—with all the hook-ups, and pen and touch software.

7.    A projector with sound and closed caption for multimedia presentations

8.    A document camera with audio and video to display, record, and video interview.

9.    Hardware and software for special needs, hearing, and sight impaired students.

10.    A classroom set of digital reading devices and a plentiful supply of digital books.

11.    Optional, if printer is really necessary, no problem, but working toward paperless is the goal.

12.    A Classroom Phone for those times when it’s necessary to make a traditional call. Although, this might become an option as well.

13.    Hardware that connects all the classroom technology together, so operation is an easy button push or two, turning the teacher into a technology orchestra leader

14.    Make available an onsite teaching-with-technology professional, who is patient, shares how to, makes individual suggestions, and can be scheduled for classroom visits. Have something similar available for after school questions and suggestions, too.

15.    Books, the kind that kids like and can hold—have a lot of them—ones that can go home without worries. Make them different levels, and replace them often. Most student magazines can be accessed online, but no problems having some of those in the hands of students as well.

There, I may have forgotten a few things, but start working on those right away!

Comments

[Ken Royal]

Vanessa, my comments to Jen certainly apply to you as well. I'm certain that most refrigerators are still plastered with school notes, papers, and drawings, too. I like that. It's amazing to me that the paperless line gets the comments, when it is just a small part of the list--and set as an option/goal. Getting paper is probably not the concern of most educators today, and I'm certain the use of it has been perfected. Thinking beyond what you've always done is important, because the alternative is too comfortable and too convenient. I'm glad you offer the choice to students, and I'm more please that in your classroom you seem to have the equipment to do it. It's probably better for an old, hands-on, chalk pusher like me to suggest a list of what's needed than someone technologically out where the fish don't bite. And please make certain to note that a great teacher and plenty of books made my list as necessities. Thanks for the comment, and also sharing how you handle digital/paper in class.

[Vanessa]

This is my fourth year teaching at a 1:1 school, and I won't go paperless. There are some lessons that still need to be taught on paper, such as writing for high stakes testing. We still do foldables. When we draw, we use print out artwork and trace it. The students print out things to take home.

If I am going to reach all learning styles, I need to have all sorts of resources.

If we are reading off of the computer, I give my students the options of printing the material our rather than read it on the monitor - not many do, but I like to give them the option.

[Ken Royal]

Thanks for the comment Jen. Agreed on more possibilities for the list. I've done my share of hands-on, apple sauce and food coloring finger painting with kids. Call this a checklist to see where you stand, and of course the beauty in education is that we can be creative with what we suggest and do. The latter may be the reason why we will never 100% education-agree on anything. For me, the frustration is that the majority of classrooms are at a technological standstill. More educators are turned off by repeated stories like Maine's 1:1 program than are turned on. Getting rid of paper, or clay and glue was not my intention. Teachers and books are on my list, along with all the tech mentions. Standing still is too easy--with or without paper. Your list might be 14 things, and another educator's might be 8--or less. The reality is that there's no excuse for teachers standing in line for today's teaching tools, not knowing what they are, or having none at all. In most places, paper, while possibly supply-regulated--seems to be something teachers can get their hands on.

[Jen]

Sorry - though I enjoy your ideas.........
I am bothered by #11.

To totally eliminate paper from your classroom means to totally eliminate possibilities and opportunities for many of your students. You might have an artist in your room and now you will never know.

Though I agree with most of your list.....tech is not the salvation for our school. To be a 100% tech room boasts nothing except about the tech.

Your list needs to include.
Bulletin Boards -- to showoff students work
Crayons, pencils, pens, markers, paints
Area that kids can disengage for a while and areas that kids can engage in a lot
Manipulatives -- things they can touch, feel, move, interact with -- more than just a keyboard, and tech toys.

I don't ever want to walk into a classroom and marvel at the tech......ever. I want to always walk into a classroom and see children learning (in a variety of ways.)

Just my thoughts.
Jen