The Classroom Design Journey Part 5: Inspiration that Inspires

Y'all, it's time for some pictures.

This past summer, I got the chance to be a part of my state's "Summer of eLearning" extravaganza of conferences. I signed up for one that was for "leaders" and wondered if I really belonged. 

(I'm not a principal. I'm not an instructional coach. I don't have my masters. I'm just a lowly tech coordinator, working as a middleman between administration and teachers. Sure I've been smacking educational concepts in the face here and there, roughing them up a little, but does that really make me a leader?)

The conference I signed up for took place at a local high school that had just redesigned a majority of their spaces. When I saw that in the description, I messaged my teacher friend who is my instructional coach go-to, as well as the media specialist, to see if she would join me. 

The first afternoon of the 2-day conference was a tour around the new facilities. Although we don't have the kajillion dollar budget to scrap what our building is doing and go into renovation hyper-drive, the spaces at the local high school were a place to jump start a new frame of thinking. 

I was also inspired while walking downtown Louisville, KY on my way to an Alton Brown Live! show. The office had whiteboard walls, movable seating, couches, tables, coffee tables, movable whiteboards...OMG, I can't even!

That office space is lucky I didn't break in, create a teleportation device and turn it into my classroom. It'll give a whole new meaning to telecommuting. 

"Students, we'll be leaving Indiana for 90 minutes and tele-commuting to Mr. Williams' classroom in Louisville, Kentucky. Step up on the teleportation panel, one at a time, and keep your hands next to your sides, otherwise, typing will become very difficult." 

Eventually, I'll be posting pictures of my classroom set up, but check out what some of the big-wigs have come up with:

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