Flexible classroom, are we getting started now? - Interview with Delphine Thibaut, school teacher.

Delphine Thibaut has been teaching as a primary school teacher for 11 years. In recent years, she has been using the flexible classroom method with her CM1 and CM2 classes, a method that is widespread across the Atlantic but still little used in Europe. We meet her today so that she can explain the benefits of this method and how to put it into practice.

What is a flexible classroom? What are its benefits?

I discovered this concept across the Atlantic, in the United States and in Quebec. Basically, the flexible classroom allows us to meet the need that children have to move and release their energy, while establishing a pedagogy: the goal is for the child to continue learning by exerting themselves. This is why arranging your classroom, making your classroom a little unusual, is attractive to children and it brings an immediate well-being effect. For example, being in socks and being able to sit on a sofa or on a ball has a direct effect, it increases the desire to learn because it is pleasant for them to come to school. Similarly, on the pedagogical side, working in a group, with your classmates, is more fun and effective. We can see it when a child has difficulty understanding something, it is the classmate who will explain and both communicate in a language different from that of an adult. The student understands much more easily with his peers. It's like an alchemy between children where each one will be able to bring their skills, their point of view, to the service of the common work.

How can we set up a flexible classroom?

First, you have to change your practice. That is to say, if you have a rather traditional teaching style, where everyone does the same thing at the same time, you have to start with that. You can start by doing group work, with half the class working independently and in a group, and the other half of the class working with the teacher on something more guided and structured. The students will gradually get used to working in groups. And this method will naturally lead to a reorganization of the space, so that these students can discuss among themselves. To best optimize the arrangements, the teacher must ask themselves several questions:

• What do I already have available at school?
• What do I already have available in my classroom?
• How can I use these items?
• How can I optimize this space?

By answering these questions, I make a plan. I look at the square meters that I have available to make this arrangement. It is at this stage that I realized that a lot of space was devoted to my teacher's space, such as the desk and cupboards that the children cannot use. So I removed my desk which took up a lot of space and I took something smaller. The more students you have, the more you have to optimize.

What types of seating are innovative for a flexible classroom and what are their benefits?

At first I didn't have a budget, so I simply used the floor. The kids love it. I suggested to the parents that each child bring a cushion from home. I also like the wobble stools because they allow you to move. You naturally make pelvic movements and it channels your energy. I also like the ZTOOL stools which are table-seats. This type of stool is very practical because it can be used anywhere. Gym balls are a bit similar. You can sit while moving a little. Poufs, step stools, an armchair, anything that allows you to sit differently will be perfect.

How long have you been practicing flexible classroom? What are your conclusions?

I have been doing flexible classes for 4 years now and I find many advantages. There is a feeling of trust and well-being, we allow the child to move, to move around, to settle comfortably, to lie down and I think that it is a real driving force for the atmosphere of the class in general. These are good conditions for learning. But there is also a big development of autonomy and group work and this is achieved through discussion, I find that the students are better. We search and write on the slate. There is a lot of time devoted to expression, to verbalization, and that is also a great added value of the flexible class. I did not realize this evolution right away. It was people from outside who noticed it. They told me that my students were very comfortable speaking.

What other innovations are you implementing in your classroom?

My big project is the “FabLab”. It is a place of digitally assisted manufacturing, with 3D printing, laser cutting, programming, etc. The idea is to define what we want to make and how we are going to do it from A to Z. In my school, I am lucky to have two 3D printers, a digital cutter, a sewing machine, programming cards, a drill press, etc. With the children, we are going to build projects using these technologies. At the moment, we are programming a small motor that will animate the arm of an astronaut. Once the children are comfortable with this type of programming, they will choose the next project themselves. For example, I have students who prefer to sew a bag and that involves knowing how to make a pattern, use math, cut out, sew. We test what works and what doesn’t. It is a technological, scientific and experimental approach. We call upon all the skills. It is the children who are in charge of their projects and must choose for themselves how to go about them.

In addition to that, I also test games in class. There is a programming game that I use that allows students to be autonomous on this part. I took advantage of the coding week to launch this coding project. I also use Twitter and I follow hashtags like #codeweek or #fablab which allows you to find other ideas and see what other classes are doing and it is a good source of exchanges and ideas.

Soon, you will find an article on our blog devoted to the FabLab in more detail!