Most everybody has the basics—classroom setup 101. A good trainer makes sure the room is arranged to maximize visibility, comfort, and participation (if this is new to you, purchase the New Trainer’s Survival Kit or attend Instructional Techniques for New Instructors ).
What else is there to classroom setup?
Working for Langevin is very nice. Invariably, we are sent to a venue the day before training. Whether the training I am to facilitate is in a public venue or within an organization, my classroom is mostly set up when I walk in—yet I still spend one to two hours settling in. Here are some of the “tweaks” I’d like to share with you that help to make a non-technical classroom well organized and functional yet comfortable for both me and the participants.
- Reposition tables. I often move them just a few inches to make sure there is space to walk in between the tables comfortably and for the chairs to slide back without hitting the wall or other tables. Additionally, I like the tables in front to be a bit closer to the walls than the ones in the back to make it easier for me to work the room and for the back tables to see the screen. Furthermore, if possible, I set the rear tables for more participants than the front so there are less people to block the view. If any table has fewer seats for participants, it will be the one closest the door to make it easier to get in and out of the room during breaks.
Reposition chairs at the tables. I like the chairs arranged in an arc facing the front of the room, instead of equally distributed around the table, to help eye contact and hence group management and participation.- Add table ingredients. I make sure there are extra supplies (markers, paper, post-its, etc.) at each table. I also believe in table toys for the kinesthetic learners.
- Add a resource table. I like a resource table at the back of the room for references and additional supplies. That gives me a place for the nice-to-know information that some participants want and some extra supplies they may need.
- Add a facilitator’s table. I like a table pretty much out of sight for my supplies and handouts so I can easily retrieve them as needed throughout the course.
- Orient the A/V Table. I like the Audio-Visual table oriented so the narrow end faces the participants as I want as little as possible to physically separate us. Additionally, I try to mount my computer low so as to not obstruct the participants’ view of the screen.
- Reposition the easel stands. Often the flipchart easels are set up in a row or to the sides of the tables. I prefer them to the front of the front tables and to the rear of the back tables. It closes down the space for a cozier feel and allows good visibility around the room. I also position one or two easels in front of the facilitator’s table to hide any clutter.
- Remove chairs. I remove or place any extra chairs on the side of the room to control where the participants can sit.
- Add chairs. I make sure I have a couple of extra chairs spread around the side of the room to accommodate any unexpected participants and so I can sit at the table when monitoring activities.
- Attend to “cordology.” I make sure that A/V cables are neatly secured and hidden as much as possible to present a more professional appearance. I also tape any exposed extension cords. Many of our participants have a safety background and trip hazards appear unprofessional to them (and embarrassing to me).
The end result of these “tweaks” is that the room presents a very organized, comfortable, and user-friendly appearance. The room, therefore, quickly becomes more of a home to the participants and enhances the learning environment. As a final bonus, all this has made the room my own and raised my comfort level in what may be a new environment for me as well as for the participants.
What do you do to “tweak” your training room to make it well organized yet comfortable? I’d love to hear from you.
Paul
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