Creating an online photographic tour of your classroom can be a great way to welcome learners young and old to a new learning environment. When students know what to expect, transitions are made easier, as are the adoption of new habits and routines. To that end, I recommend building your classroom tour from the perspective of a student entering the classroom on their first day of school. Ask yourself, what do I want this student to know? Where do I want this student to go? What information will this student need in order to be independent and self-sufficient.

You may find it helpful to include the following images in your tour.

1. An image of your open classroom door, with your room number clearly visible.
2. An image of student cubbies, lockers or available hooks for bags and outdoor clothing.
3. An image of the desks, tables and workspaces that will be assigned or available to students.
4. An image of your white board, digital screen, or in untraditional spaces, an image of whatever space will serve as the primary viewpoint or “front of classroom” for learners.
5. An image of your desk or workspace.
6. You may also want to consider including details about how and where students can locate washroom and dinning facilities.

Two final thoughts!

First, for safety and privacy reasons, I don’t recommend including building maps, classroom floor-plans, or even views from your classroom window. If your classroom webpage is only available to internal audiences you may have more leeway here. However, if it is external facing, be wary about what you share.

Second, classroom tours can most definitely be done by video. However, before you go this route, make sure you have a tripod handy. Footage shot while walking or standing can be shaky, disjointed and oftentimes doesn’t linger long enough on important features. Think too about your target audience. Classroom tours are perhaps most important for students who struggle with sensory issues or transitions. For these learners, fast paced video can be overwhelming, whereas static images can be more easily absorbed.