MY THINKING CLASSROOM

A thinking classrooms don’t just look different, they feel different. They provide an environment
where students are more likely to express their ideas, think outside the box, challenge problems with
innovative solutions and most importantly—learn faster and more effectively. A thinking classroom must
have something to think about. A thinking classroom is a classroom that is not only conducive to thinking
but also occasions thinking, a space that is inhabited by thinking individuals as well as individuals thinking
collectively, learning together, and constructing knowledge and understanding through activity and
discussion. It is a space wherein the teacher not only fosters thinking but also expects it, both implicitly
and explicitly.

I identified some element of a thinking classroom which I find very essential in the design for the
21st Century Learning. First is flexibility of furniture and space. The 21st century thinking classrooms need
to accommodate a variety of learning activities, and so they must be flexible, with “zones” designated for
different activities. Furniture are arranged in nooks, each with a designated purpose, such as a lab or a
tech zone, group seating for collaborative projects, and a “quiet space” for reading and independent
study. Second element is a thinking classroom must cater collaborative and Independent Learning. Open,
flexible spaces allow students to come together to share, collaborate, and create. Research shows that
people are social learners and the latest trends in 21st century learning advocate problem-based learning,
cooperative learning, and reciprocal (peer) teaching. Assignments and hands-on projects that require
team collaboration nurture these trends. Third, a thinking classroom must have an Embracing Movement.
21st century design accommodates students’ natural need to move, while providing the optimal flexibility.
Movement-enhancing classroom elements include: workstations, standing tables (for lab work, etc.), yoga
mats, exercise balls, kidney tables and sofas. For maximum functionality and accessibility, lower your
whiteboards and tables, to accommodate students of all heights. Fourth element, a thinking classroom
must Foster Inspiration and Creativity. If we expect students to develop and use their creativity, we need
to give them an environment that is conducive to inspiration and new ideas. Lastly, Incorporating
Technology is an important element in the 21st Century Thinking Classroom. You know you can’t avoid
technology these days. Students love devices, and those gismos, while distracting at times, are actually
beneficial for placing information at students’ fingertips. If you can equip your classroom with such devices
as computers, video screens, and tablets, your students will be motivated to research and learn new
things. Tech devices also allow students to stay engaged and move at their own pace. These elements are
extracted originally from the elements of a thinking classroom which are: Teaching FOR THINKING,
Teaching OF THINKING, Teaching WITH TEACHING and Teaching ABOUT THINKING.

Below is the floor plan and the actual picture of my thinking classroom:
 Floor plan of my Thinking Classroom

Cabinet/Bookshelf
Teachers table

Collaborative/group
Furniture/Cabinet
Computer units’/for work Area
technology
personal belongings
integration
plus Internet

Study nook for

independent learning
and Self-time

Furniture/Cabinet for
personal belongings

Inspiration Zone

Open Space for free

movement

3d View/Top View of my Thinking Classroom