Classroom

Classrooms in 1897 at the Francis M. Drexel School. Note the gaslights, chalkboards, moveable walls, and the maps and pictures on the walls

A classroom is a room in which teaching or learning activities can take place. Classrooms are found in educational institutions of all kinds, including public and private schools, corporations, and religious and humanitarian organizations. The classroom attempts to provide a safe space where learning can take place uninterrupted by other distractions.

Typical equipment

A university classroom with permanently installed desk-chairs, green chalkboards, and an overhead projector.

A classroom in SIM University, Singapore.

Most classrooms have a large writing surface where the instructor or students can share notes with other members of the class. Traditionally, this was in the form of a blackboard but these are becoming less common in well-equipped schools, and are replaced by flipcharts, whiteboards and interactive whiteboards. Many classrooms also have TVs, maps, charts, Pencils, books, monographs and LCD projectors for presenting information and images from a computer.

Decor and design

Main article: Classroom design

The layout, design and decor of the classroom has a significant effect upon the quality of education.^{[citation needed]} Attention to the acoustics and colour scheme may reduce distractions and aid concentration. The lighting and furniture likewise influence study and learning.^{[citation needed]}

Types of classrooms

Classroom in St. Eunan's College, Letterkenny, Ireland

For lessons that require specific resources or a vocational approach different types of classrooms both indoors and outdoors are used. This is known as situated learning. Classrooms can range from small groups of five or six to big classrooms with hundreds of students. A large class room is also called a lecture hall. A few examples of classrooms are computer labs which are used for IT lessons in schools, gymnasiums for sports, and science laboratories for biology, chemistry and physics.

Challenges to the classroom

Open air classroom for Maasai children in Tanzania.

While the classroom is clearly the dominant setting for learning, the flexibility of classroom instruction is often called into question. Instead of isolating learners in a classroom, many teachers are experimenting with integrating learning into a student's daily life. New learning technologies and mobile devices make it possible for learning to take place at any time, at any place, and (perhaps most importantly) at any pace that the learner desires.

According to the American Society for Training and Development, more than 40% of corporate training now takes place online and not in a classroom.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Classroom of the future
• School of the Future (disambiguation page)
• Schoolroom