How to Create an Interactive Classroom
(Developer, 2023)
Are you getting bored with your lessons? How is your classroom dynamic? Changing your classroom into an Interactive classroom might be the change you need to make every day an engaging and fun day for both the teacher and the students! Learning is vastly different from how adults and our elders learn. Traditional learning consisted of limited resources, such as chalkboards and textbooks. Students learned by sitting quietly, listening to the teacher, and learning through repetition. Today, students learn through technology. The lessons are more student-centered and less teacher-centered. The lessons are more engaging, and students can learn through fun and engaging games. According to the book "The Interactive Class" by Joe and Kristin Merrill, you must follow the steps when creating an engaging lesson to develop an interactive classroom (Merrill, 2020, p 23)
- Prepare
- Innovate
- Visualize
- Observe
- Troubleshoot
Creating an Interactive classroom may be challenging initially, but it will become easier over time. Educators must persevere. "If you can persevere in the name of the passion, student growth will follow (Merrill, 2020, p 28). Another important aspect of making your classroom into an interactive classroom is the layout and the look. Your classroom should feel welcoming. Here are some characteristics of an interactive classroom.
- Flexible- flexible seating, whole-class meeting space
- Authentic- Students work showcased throughout the classroom
- Colorful- use color for organization, carpet seating, and behavior
- Engaging- Alexa, green screen, class-doorbell
"An interactive classroom is a place where students are engaged and challenged" (Merrill, 2020, p.41). To become an Interactive, you must have these characteristics as a teacher
- Be Personal
- Be Positive
- Be Proactive
Having those characteristics will make students feel welcomed, and they have a voice. If you want to change your classroom dynamic into an Interactive one, I hope this post will help you start your journey!
(2021)
References
Merrill, J., & Merrill, K. (2020). The InterACTIVE class: Using Technology to Make Learning More Relevant and Engaging in the Elementary Classroom.
Developer, A. (2023, September 28). A teacher’s Guide to Interactive Classrooms. ClassVR. https://www.classvr.com/blog/a-teachers-guide-to-interactive-classrooms/
YouTube. (2021, June 19). Top 15 best educational apps for kids | Android and IOS | 2021 | free and paid. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2OUHYWpG8w
