New classroom offers new opportunities
Nordean’s room includes televisions, different seating
Mr. Nordean teaches his freshman civics class. His room was redesigned Presidents’ Day Weekend by the Learning Design Team task force.
April 25, 2016
When freshman Ayanah Nelson first saw civics teacher Mike Nordean’s new classroom, she didn’t know what to expect.
“I thought it looked really nice and comfortable but I didn’t think it was going to change anything that we do in class,” Nelson said.
About a month ago, Nordean’s classroom got a serious makeover, with new televisions, seating arrangements, lights and more, according to Nordean.
The redesigned classroom operates as a first step for a task force called the Learning Design Team, a task force created for the district to improve facilities in the district, according to superintendent Rob Metz.
Nordean said students reacted favorably to the new environment, and he enjoys aspects of it as well.
“(The new classroom) creates flexibility — I like that,” Nordean said. “I think people like the feel of it; it’s what students perceive a college classroom to be like.”
According to Nelson, the new classroom hasn’t come without bugs, however. She said the layout of the classroom could use some work.
“There are some seats in the room where your back is facing the screen,” Nelson said. “I think rotating where students are sitting could help because there’s a couch where everyone wants to sit and everyone should get a chance to try it out.”
According to Nordean, he’s still waiting on some of the aspects of the classroom to come through.
“One of our TVs doesn’t even work so we’re down to two,” Nordean said. “We’re also waiting for the furniture supplier to replace some things.”
However, Nelson said she enjoys the new experience the classroom provides.
“There are two TVs so we started using those and the white board at once,” Nelson said. “If you can’t see far away, Mr. Nordean moves the TVs closer to you which is really helpful.”
Nordean said he would like to see modern classrooms implemented throughout the school, but worries about the cost.
“I think it would be nice to do,” Nordean said. “However, the only way it’s possible is to a tune of $5 million. I wonder, too, if the same amount of money could be spent in more common areas like in the lunchroom or the media center.”
