David Schroko
How can we design a classroom to be conducive to student-centered learning? 
A “student-centered” approach shifts the focus of activity from the teacher to the learners, and the classroom can follow that same shift. I consistently see suggestions to get rid of military-row seating (with all students facing the front) and arrange a variety of other seating patterns which encourage group discussion. Breakaway areas, spaces for collaboration, quiet, self-learning areas and even moveable seating for students to be in control of where they are working are other seating options.
The teacher moves into a facilitator role and pays close attention to each student’s interests, abilities, and learning styles
The "Cult of Pedagogy" website suggests some of the following as a "good start" to redesigning your classroom:
- Ask students what design elements assist in their learning and what gets in the way.
-Remove clutter and distracting, unecessary items or objects.
-Mix up the seating options.
-Create areas for collaboration.
-Add writeable spaces for students, like whiteboards.
-Showcase the learning process - lists of ideas, whiteboard mindwebs, progress report of projects etc.
-Narrow the color pallette (reduce color noise int he classroom).
Number one: The teacher should always be modifying and making changes to the learning environment that contribute to a student-centered learning approach. The changes are never final!
I gathered information from the following websites:
12 Ways to upgrade your classroom design-
https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/upgrade-classroom-design/
Six Design Tips for a Student-Centered Classroom-
https://inservice.ascd.org/six-design-tips-for-a-student-centered-classroom/
By David Schroko

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