MarkIt Up In Our Makerspace

One of the things I have been working on the past few months is turning a space in the library into a Makerspace. Part of that process is finding the right furniture and tools to place in the space so students can be as creative as possible. One of these tools is the MarkIt Up table from BeyondTheOfficeDoor.com. It is a 3 in 1 dry erase table that allows users to use it as a table, standing desk, and a dry erase board. It is a first of its kind.

I was very lucky to have BeyondTheOfficeDoor.com send me one for the purpose of the review and to help us create a space for our students. The first thing that stands out about this great table is the fact that it can be raised and lowered electrically. It can meet the height of any user. The height adjustment range is from 27" to 47". Once the table is assembled, just plug it in and get to work. The table moves up and down with two simple buttons to press. That is not the only thing that table can do.

The table can be flipped up to become a board to present the work you have done. Here are some pictures of the table in table form and flipped up in the board view. The easy lock mechanism is perfect to keep the table in the board position and it allows for a simple pull to move it back down to the table position. The transition is easy and great when people want to share their work with others.

The other nice part of the table is that the height can be adjusted. If there are taller or shorter students who need to work on the table, they only need to press the buttons to raise or lower it to fit their needs. It is also nice for those students who want to stand and work at the table instead of just sitting. It is better for students to stand and work at times and the MarkIt Up table allows students to do that.

We are currently using the table to help design the physical space in the library and to take notes when we meet. We then take pictures of the work when we are done and can erase the table for others to use next. The table is also on wheels, so that makes it very easy to move around the space and work wherever we need to. We truly envision this table playing a large part in the space as students work to create exciting projects to share with the school and the community. 

Here is a quick video showing the Markit Up in action. 

The dry erase markers worked wonderfully on the table. We were able to write, erase, and write again without any staining or shadowing on the table. It is perfect for quick brainstorming or long term writing. Here are some shots of table in action and some of our work. 

The MarkIt Up table retails for $1,299.99 and is a nice investment in a space that is going to have many students in and out planning big and small projects. I'm looking for tools and furniture that will support creativity and collaboration. The MarkIt Up table meets that criteria easily. I reccommend you check out the MarkIt Up table for your learning spaces. 

For more information on the MarkIt Up table, follow the link. 

10 Weeks of #NerdySpaces

It has been 10 weeks since I started my #NerdySpaces and I thought it would be the perfect time to reflect on how things have been going for me. 

Adventures in No Desk World

The biggest concern for me when I was thinking about changing my room around, was wondering if I could function without a desk. The standard teacher desk has been a part of professional career since I started. I wanted to make more space for my students and getting rid of my desk was one of the ways to do it. I have to say that I do not miss it. It is crazy how much we think we need things until we are forced to be without them. I made the changes and adjusted certain workflows and I do not think twice about it. I have everything I need on a mobile podium. I can move around the room and keep all of my devices and books with me. 

I was always a mover when I taught, but I am more mobile than ever. Since I was able to get rid of the desks, I was able to create larger tables for the student desks which opened up the entire center of my classroom. I can now freely move around from table to table and connect with students. I'm no longer awkwardly maneuvering around students and bumping into them with my hips or butt as I go from student to student. It was weird for everyone, but something that could not be avoided when you have a class jammed with 33 students. 

The best feedback I received about this change of teacher desk and then the student desks came from former students. Students from previous years always stop by to say hello and talk for a bit. When they saw the new class design, they were impressed and a bit jealous. They loved the larger tables and recognized that the extra room would be helpful. Current students like the layout as well. One student said it felt more open and connected, like a community. That made me smile because that is what I was going for in the long run. 

Two Screens Are Better Than One

This is just a huge bonus for me and I know that it is not possible for many teachers, but it is something I wanted to try. I was very lucky to receive a new Smart Board. It is an interactive flat panel that is awesome! The 6065 is a beautiful screen that makes every image crystal clear. It connects to my Mac and my Chromebook. It is HD, so my Chromecast and/or Apple TV are also in play for the device. It only has one HDMI input, so I bought an HDMI splitter so I could connect more than one device and just flip between them when needed. It is on a stand so I can wheel it around the stage front and back if I need it. I use it every day!

The 6065 is awesome to write on and I do not experience any lag. It really is the software that makes the board so awesome. Notebook has been in our district for many years and I many of my lessons saved there. Going over essay writing with my students is much easier when notes can be carried over from class to class and when students can get up and interact with the text on the screen. Annotating has never been easier for my kids. I can't wait to try out amp from Smart. That is going to take collaboration to the next level. 

One of the issues I had with the new desk/table alignment in my classroom was that some students were not facing the front of the room where the original Smart Board was installed. I had students half turned and craning their neck to see the notes. I also did not want a "front of the room" in my classroom. I wanted to create an environment where it didn't matter where students were looking. What I was able to do was connect my laptop to the 6065 and then mirror that to the computer at the front of the room. Now, the students could see what was going on no matter where they looked. From my mobile podium, I would use my wireless mouse and keyboard to add notes from anywhere in the room, or I could go up to the board and take notes on the screen. 

Another great use has been for showing the class backchannel. I used this with my Freshmen and it worked very well. I liked having the running stream of the thoughts from students and using that to enhance the discussion. This idea could work just as well in a single screen classroom. The second screen provided me a spot to collect the ideas shared in Smart Notebook. TodaysMeet has been perfect for my classroom for creating a backchannel. Here is a shot of the 6065 and TodaysMeet. This was before class. I forgot to take a picture of it during class because discussion was going so well. It's a good problem to have. 

I'm sorry that his sounds like and ad for Smart and Today'sMeet, but those are the tools that have helped me make my #NerdySpaces possible. These things can be done without them, but I want to spotlight the tools that have made the first 10 weeks of this crazy experiment possible. The thing I hope that people take away from this is that it is worth taking risks in the classroom. It doesn't always have to be lesson based. Changing the class environment can be huge and I have seen it in the first part of the school year. I look forward to trying new things with different tools to see if I can get the most out of my space and my students. 

If you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments section below. 

Mobile Lectern To Support #LearningSpace - #NerdySpaces

I'm really excited to share about the Oklahoma Sound Corp® Smart Cart that was sent to me by the awesome people at Quill.com. They read my posts and tweets on creating better #NerdySpaces for my students and wanted to help. 

One of the things I wanted to do was open up more space for my students and for myself. One of the ways I did that was by eliminating the teacher desk and the cabinets. Once those were removed, I had so much more room to move my desks around. I was able to set up 4 areas for student that look like conference table designs. It gives me tons more room to move around the middle of the class. One of the students said they really liked it because it made class more social. That was a huge endorsement for me. However, I found myself still needing a place to put a few important items in my class. I needed a spot for my laptop, iPad, and just a few other things that I use regularly in class. That is where the Oklahoma Sound Corp® Smart Cart from Quill come in and saves the day. 

The traditional lectern is something that I have used for many years. It was a place for me to stand and talk to the students all class. Over the past couple of years, I have found that I do not use the lectern as much as I used to. The stationary aspect of the lectern was the major problem. When I moved things around in my room, I realized I had more space and I would love to be able to move freely with the tools that I need. 

             

Here are a few photos that show my current setup. I am able to have my HP Chromebook on top along with my Evernote Post-Its and my Evernote Moleskine notebook. I am able to move freely around the room, look at my lesson plans, take notes, and roll from table to table to engage with my students. I am able to have conversations with my students and take notes on anything I might need to address with them later on in class. In the past, I would have to maneuver around multiple desks and avoid a mine field of bags and chairs to get to each student. It was an event that often ended in awkwardly bumping into students as I tried to move around. 

By moving the teacher desk and other items out of my room, I have opened up the room to movement and that has led to more engagement with my students. That has been key. The mobile lectern now allows me to move more freely around the room. With a wireless mouse and keyboard, I do not even have to stick to the front of the room. I can move around and still keep information on the board. I also can carry the gigantic textbook with me as I move from table to table as well because there is a cool little shelf that flips up and down. 

I love the Oklahoma Sound Corp® Smart Cart and it has made my class better. The freedom it gives me to move around and keep the important items I need for class is a difference maker. Here are just a few more things that I love about it. 

• It comes with a power cord so that devices can be charged at night. I just wheel it over to an outlet, plug it in, and let my devices I've connected to the power strip charge. 
• All of the doors come with locks so all of my devices can be safe when I leave them to charge over night and I can keep my phone, wallet, or anything else in a safe place while I teach during the day. 
• The desk top slides open for more storage space. I love being able to keep my books or laptop in there for easy access. 
• Lightweight to move around and it was very easy to assemble. 

If you are looking to change the way your class flows, if you are interested in creating learning spaces in your classroom that allow more freedom for the students and the teacher, you need to consider ordering a Oklahoma Sound Corp® Smart Cart from Quill.com right away. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to edit and post it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.)

#NerdySpaces Reflections #EdChat #LearningSpaces

I'm constantly thinking about my learning environment right now. Every time I'm in my room, it's what I focus on. I moved my desks around after Back to School Night to a new formation and I'm not sure if I am sold on this. The students had mixed reviews, so more changes might be on the way. One student said it seemed too much like a conference set up. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. I do not like the fact the students have their back to the front of the room, but I'm trying to move away from the idea of a "front of the room". It really has me conflicted as I push myself away from the traditional classroom arrangement and more towards an open floor plan. This allows me to have an open space to move and I have a mobile lectern coming shortly that will allow me to have my devices with me as I move around the room from table to table.

IDK.

I'm sure there will be more adjustments. 

I do want to give a shout out to VS for sending me the stool below. It is called Hokki and it is part of their Shift + line of furniture. It allows me to move freely without falling over. Students love it and other teachers have tried it out and have loved it. I am a fan and am seriously thinking about getting more for my room. VS also has other great furniture to check out if you are looking for some new additions to your classroom. 

VS also has a great book they put together with the help of OWP/P Architects and Bruce Mau Design called the The Third Teacher. The book is about learning spaces and how important they are to education. There are so many great examples and innovative ideas in the book. It has helped me rethink they way I look at my room. Take a look and see how it might help you. 

That is it for now, but stay tuned for more updates and check out my #NerdyCast on YouTube for weekly updates/reflections on my week teaching. 

More Learning Spaces Thoughts #NerdySpaces @Bretford

I've been thinking more about my #NerdySpaces I want to create in my classroom and I've been doing some cruising around the Internet and ideas have been been piling up, so I thought I would share them here. I stopped by Bretford this weekend and these are some of things that I found.

Note: These might not be the exact items I try and purchase, they just are giving me ideas for what I would like as a concept.

Desk/Table Top Areas

Bretford Explore 4-Leg Activity Table

I love the idea behind this table because it allows the desks to be moved into groups to create larger tables, but can be used as solo desks for students who want/need to work alone. This would fit nicely with the idea of 20 Time so my students can be in groups most of the week, but can break off into solo spots to work on their project. I'm really looking for something that allows easy mobility. This desk would fit what I was looking for in my room.


Explore 4-Leg Teaming Table

This is one of those "dream big" items. I love the idea of having a few of these around the room so students can work together and present their work to their group easily. I think a a couple of groups could be set up at each table to present their work to the others and get feedback. Using Google Docs or SMART Amp in these groups would be a great way to create a more collaborative environment for the students. I also the love chairs on wheels. That's next. 

Explore Chair

Chairs on wheels make perfect sense when you pair them with tables on wheels. The students can easily move around the room and form big groups or small groups. Tables can quickly be moved aside for other projects that require more room. These can be stacked as well, so they can be moved out of the way. They have armless versions as well, but I like resting my arms on chairs, why wouldn't I want students to?

These are just a few of the ideas that have come across my mind as I have been checking out various vendors and the different options they offer. I love the looking at these items for inspiration. They are allowing me to think about my teaching as a whole in a new light. Instead of looking at what it is in my room right now and planning lessons around that space, I'm planning with an empty room in mind and the room will be created by what the lessons will need. That is how it should be. 

I'll keep surfing the web looking for inspiration for my room and I will try and find other items out there that might make my room best for teaching and learning. 

Reflecting On My Current Classroom Setup #NerdySpaces

I spent a couple of hours in my classroom today taking pictures, sketching ideas, and annotating those pictures on my iPad using Skitch and Evernote. Here were my thoughts as I looked at my room. (Caution: These are just rough ideas, not final decisions.)

I'm going to start with the stage area in my classroom. This is the area that students love the most and tend to congregate before and after class. It is also the center of group work for most students if they can claim it before anyone else. The chairs have been collected over the years and student love to sit there and work. The whiteboard areas always change during the school year and the door is painted with IdeaPaint and it is called the Dream Door. Student can post thing they hope to accomplish during the school year. As I looked at the space, I took down some ideas. 

The stage used to be the center of my Blogger's Cafe idea from a few years ago. I moved away from that because the students had their own devices and they didn't need to be there to have access to their blogs. The chairs stayed and the iPad cart was added. A few more chairs were added, but the space has gone unchanged for the most part. The answer to my classroom space issues have been staring at me from the stage for a few years. Instead of viewing the stage as a special area to lounge and work, why didn't I see that the entire room should be like this? Despite how innovative or progressive I try to be, there are elements of the "old school" mentality that stick with me and are hard to break. 

The front of my room needs some serious changes as well. Here is what I realized while staring at the front of my room like a student would in class. 

I have wasted so much space in my room because I had the wrong idea of what a classroom should look like. "All eyes up front" is not the way to go about designing the classroom. That makes the learning environment about me and it should not about me at all. Even when the desks are moved into a table formation, students are constantly adjusting their seating to make eye contact with the speaker. 

I move all over the room, yet I set everything up to make the front of the room the focal point. It doesn't even make sense. I spend time dodging stray backpacks as I walk the room and students are turning every which way to keep me in their view. This formula is a huge fail. 

Here are a few more shots where I suggest some changes. I hope I can make them. 

I have all of this board space that should be used in class by my students on most days. I need to arrange tables and chairs around those learning hubs so the students can collaborate freely without having to get up and go to the library or the hallway to get comfortable. 

I would like to see each part of the room that has something a little different and special that could accomodate the different types of learners that come in and out of my room. Maybe a couple of the areas have screens for students to plug in their device and work collaboratively on a computer. Maybe another spot features dry erase boards and desktops so they can map out their plans with markers. I think there are so many different possibilities if I take the time and figure out what is best. 

Once I get some ideas set, I'm going to reach out to some students for feedback and see what they think about the learning space. 

If you are a vendor interested in helping me create the #NerdySpaces for my students, please drop me a line on Twitter (@TheNerdyTeacher) or though email OneNerdyTeacher@gmail.com.

#NerdySpaces - My Project for 2014-2015

Every year I decide on a project that I'm going to focus on and share on my blog. Last year it was 20 Time, the year before it was an Epic Evernote Experiment, and I documented the Epic Romeo and Juliet Project from 4 years ago. This year, I'm going to focus on creating a better learning environment by create spaces that are more conducive to modern teaching and learning.

I'm going to be calling these #NerdySpaces and I will be using this blog to document the changes that take place in my classroom. Today I will be heading to my room to take a bunch of before pictures to document what my room used to be and I'm going to start brainstorming on what I would like my room to be. Here are just a few of my random thoughts.

I want to ditch my teacher desk. I've always sectioned off a part of my room that is the teacher area and students are not allowed. I'm not sure why I do it, but I've always done it and I want to stop. I want the entire space to be open and accessible to all of the students. My desk tends to just hold stuff I barely use anyway. I will miss the IdeaPaint top I painted for the desk, but I feel I can do something different if I push myself.

I want to dump the chair/desk setup and move to tables or desks that are more easily moved to create group work stations. I've seen some cool things from Steelcase and Bretford. It is more than time to rethink what the classroom looks like.

I teach in a 1:1 iPad classroom, but I feel like I still teach too much from the stage. Part of that is the environment I teach it that is designed to have students looking to the front of the room at me or the student presenter. I need to reconsider the "center" of my room and how a new layout might promote more collaboration and better learning.

I want students to have a say in what the classroom is going to look like on any given day. I want the flow of the room to be dictated by the learning, not the learning dictated by the flow of the room.

There are so many possibilities, but time is short. I want to have the new room set up by the time I start school in September, but that might not be possible. I need to find some sponsors that are willing to go with me on the crazy adventure and support new ideas. I'm blessed to be in a building that has always supported by ideas and I can wait to see where this project takes me.

I learned from my students last year that it is ok to dream big and fail big. This might be one of those times, but I'm not going to let that get in my way. Stay tuned for updates over the course of summer as I figure out what my room is going to look like.

Please feel free to leave me comments below with suggestions on articles to read, vendors to contact, or anything else that could help me create the best #NerdySpaces for my students. If you are a vendor and you want to partner with me for this great experiment and be featured on my blog for the year as I write about the awesomeness that is my room because of you, please send me an email at OneNerdyTeacher@gmail.com.

Thanks everyone!

Nick