Teachers
How many teachers use the science wing and classroom?
• 6 teachers
What specific sciences are being taught?
• Biology
• AP Biology
• Advanced Biology
• Earth and Environmental sciences
• AP Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Chemistry
• Physics
Are the needs different for different grade levels?
• No, pretty much the same
Do you share spaces? If so, does it work?
What do you share amongst science faculty?
What do you share with other departments?
• Teachers do not know what they are teaching each year.
• The classrooms need flexibility in accommodating science teaching but still are unique enough for each subject.
• The science wing shares space with the English Department, Foreign Language Department, and electives.
• Shared teacher lounge
• Shared computer lab with
What works and doesn’t work well for you now in the current physical space?
• Storage Storage Storage
• Hot water in the classroom
• Every lab desk needs electric outlet
• Possibly do not put sink at the lab desk since students use it as trash
• Student circulation is a big problem
• ADA accessibility for student a big issue
• Put sinks in the back and not at teacher’s desk
• Electrical cords pose safety issues while circulating
Are there ways in which we can plan your space that facilitate ease in setting up demonstrations?
• Separate the lab from the teaching desk.
• Facilitate individual and group work up to 4 students
Are there ways in which we can plan you space that facilitate ease in setting up demonstrations and teaching.
Each teacher and strategy is a little different, as well as the set up of their room. There seems to be issues in the rooms of all the professors we spoke with regarding line of sight vs. their front desk/sink station & the smart board.
They tend to adapt their strategy to deal with classroom elements that can be obtrusive.
If demonstrations are not prepared in advance, hunting and gathering supplies can take a lot of class time.
NOTE: A lower sink (ADA level?) and horizontal surface will reduce the need to hang the smart board very high. Lower horizontal plane will not cause spills on technology above it. A raised platform on one side can host the teachers laptop or other items so they are comfortable in a standing position.
What are your technology requirements and wishes? How would you connect to other schools in the future?
A computer station at each lab would be beneficial. Teachers would like their computers in a work space that is not viewable by the students (for example, no teachers desks right next to the door). There needs to be at least 1 outlet at each lab station. Current smart board technology is (connected to projector and teachers computer) is used by all the teachers.
Students:
How many students use the space at one time?
For the required sciences, biology, chemistry, and earth/environmental, there are 20-30 students (sometimes a few more) for 3 periods (90 minutes) a day. The elective subjects have less students – around 15-20 in a class.
Do you see this changing in the next 10 -20 years?
Enrollment has gone down from around 1200 students to around 800 in the last 15 years.
How do they work in the space, individual vs. group? How many in groups?
Most of the work is group work. There are usually 2-4 in a group. The ideal situation would be 2 person groups with the ability to combine groups when more students are needed to complete an assignment. Testing is individual.
How many groups can share equipment?
1-2 groups of 2 people can share equipment when needed.
Do students need personal storage space in the classroom? Ie. Lockers.
Yes. Storage of books and bookbags is an ongoing issue. When seated at the desks, the bookbags limit mobility of the teacher. At the lab, bookbags can be placed on the ledge but that space is limited. The school provides everyone a locker, but because of the open style of the campus, many students don’t use a locker.
Do students need personal storage space in the classroom? i.e. lockers
What concepts and objectives could be included to facilitate parental, community, and club involvement?
• there is a great lack in parental participation
• there is a lack of desire for students to participate in extra-ciruccular clubs
• the faculty does not see much hope for involvement
• this high school serves the entire county which is 400 sq miles, so distance plays a factor in much of this involvement
How do you administer testing of students, are there special provisions for students with special needs?
• Testing during the year is given at the students desks.
• Teachers make three different versions of the test to reduce the ability to cheat.
• End of course testing is given by the federal government and all test are the same.
• Using temporary partitions is not an acceptable solution.
• Testing is moving over to a computer based format.
•
Facility:
Can we ask the faculty to generate a list individual requirements for each science discipline.
• We can’t really generate this, it will take far too much time. All of our storage is currently utilized and we need more.
Can we ask you to generate a list of equipment needs, such as vent hoods, water, gas supply, secure storage needs, biohazard disposal, access to fresh/cleaned/scrubbed air?
• Current vent hoods are not up to code and do not work very well
• Mainly use to remove offensive smells from the rooms
• The necessity of gas and water supply at individual desks is divided between the teachers, some say yes others say no.
• Some teachers think that a few sinks at the rear of the classroom will be sufficient
• Hot water availability is a must.
• All materials need to be locked. Chemicals need to be double locked and must be stored based on OSHA regulations.
• Teachers prepare a weeks worth of copies at one time and need a place, such as an office mailbox, to keep these papers stored and separate during the week.
We also need to know the types and sizes of equipment that you use and need storage for.
• We can’t really generate this list, there is so much equipment, all of our current storage is utilized and we need more.
Studio 411 . Fall 13 