Overview Floorplanner is an online application to digitally design real space. You can set the dimensions of the space and customize all of the furniture to replicate your space. This makes organizing your classroom a breeze. You can drag the elements around to rearrange and add in new pieces to see how to optimize your classroom. It is especially nice because you can view the design in 3D; this gives you a good representation of how things will work out before you actually start moving stuff. The only down-side to this app is that you only get one free design, afterwards you have to pay to upgrade. My Design I designed my ideal space using Floorplanner. I used tables, rather than desks, to promote collaboration and communication. Placing students in pairs also helps teach them self-discipline, they have to sit quietly during the lesson while in close proximity to their friends. I also included a section of flexible seating where students can do work outside of instructional time. This allows students to be comfortable and relax a little while still getting their independent work done. I placed my desk area in the back corner of the room to provide a full view of the classroom. This way, I can easily see all of my students at the same time, regardless of where they are sitting, as well as anyone at the door. I added a smart-board at one end of the classroom to utilize during lessons, as well as a chalkboard at the other end. I liked the look of the chalkboard and the nostalgic feel it offered; it will also be useful when the technology of the smart-board inevitably fails. Having the boards and desks placed as they are ensure that everyone can see the material for the lesson and be involved in participation. I chose wooden floors because they look inviting, yet are still easy to clean. The storage is placed in the corners of the classroom to leave usable space in the middle and keep people from tripping on them. I also found pieces of furniture that could multitask in their purpose. Many of the seats also function as storage places. Floorplanner and Danielson Framework Floorplanner aids teachers in Danielson component 2E (Organization of Physical Space). It is easy to alter physical designs on the app to ensure there are clear walkways and space for students to move safely (Safety and Accessibility). It can also help you arrange furniture to maximize the potential of your classroom. This can make your classroom look bigger and run smoother (Arrangement of Furniture). You can also think about how you can arrange your resources to serve multiple purposes (Use of Physical Resources). Conclusion
I highly recommend this tool to everyone, not just teachers. It makes organizing physical space easy and fun. I will definitely continue to use this tool in my classroom to make sure I am optimizing my space effectively. Personally, I wish I could change the amount of designs you get for free, but you can always keep altering the one design you started with to get around that. Overall, the tool is great at helping educators become effective designers and facilitators (ISTE for Educators).
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