Ideal Classroom

When I was a nursing student and until now, I continue to believe that it is possible to

create moments when we think outside our own boxes of habits and rituals. In this sense, my

teaching philosophy can perhaps best be described as the teaching of guidance, by which I mean

the encouragement of different styles of thinking, that allow us to re-consider our own

unconscious relationship to ourselves and, perhaps, the world at large. And personalized do just

that they “accommodate the enormous diversity of today’s students, recognizing that they come

from different socioeconomic situations and cultural backgrounds, learn in different ways and at

different speeds, and have different talents, problems, and aspirations.” (Wolk, 2010, p. 19)

Students learn in a positive environment where they feel they can achieve their best in. In

a C-space environment students’ views were feeling of safety, which helps them overcome their

fears of being judged, criticized, laughed at or not knowing the right answer (Jankowska &

Atlay, 2008). Students also learn at their own pace, a “high appreciated feature” of the C-space

environment is that the interactivity and the ability for participants to work at their own pace

(Jankowska & Atlay, 2008).

Technology could be integrated into learning with computer-assisted collaborative

working tools, such as the anonymous, collaborative software FacilitatePro “students underlined,

the space gives ‘a chance to share views anonymously yet still be able to have a conversation and

spark-off each other’ (Jankowska & Atlay, 2008).

I would want my ideal classroom to resemble a C-space (Jankowska & Atlay, 2008). A

C-space is a creative social space, to me which seems similar to the cafeteria set-up. Participants

in the C-space expressed that it engages student actively and gets everyone involved. The

interactive whiteboard “introduces students to the concept that problem solving and creativity

can come together to use the left and right hemispheres of the brain (Jankowska & Atlay,

2008).There are three components that Jankowsk & Atlay (2008) describe to be in the C-space:

a. Dedicated space…that in no way it resembles normal working conditions, multiple

media for working, and technology to capture thoughts and ideas.

b. Computer-assisted collaborative working tools.

c. Facilitation techniques to stimulate open, creative, thinking, and to lead the group in

focusing and extracting useable outcomes from this thinking.

This environment would allow “an opportunity to get to know students much better, learn

about their ideas, problems, styles of learning, see them in another light, and create the

atmosphere of intimacy, which is lost due to the limited amount of contact hours in

contemporary teaching (Jankowska & Atlay, 2008).

Ideal Classroom BudgetItem Cost Quantitiy Total CostFurnitureSplit-Level Training Table, One-Person 185.95 25 4648.75Swivel Tilt Chair 146 25 3650

TechnologyInteractive Whiteboard with 3M Projector 3,049 1 3049HP Pavillion Desktop 479.99 25 11999.75Ipads 499.99 25 12499.75

Software & ProgramsWindows 7 219.99 25 5499.75Discovery Education Health 1695 1 1695Facilitate Pro Software 19240 1 19240

Gross Cost 622826% PA Tax 3736.92Net Cost 66018.92