Back to school - creating classroom spaces that inspire

The way everyone is working, and learning is changing, from working from home to more collaborative work. These changes are slowly finding their way into our university lecture theatres as well, changing furniture and layout design to optimise space and learning opportunities.

Effective space planning is essential to supporting and enhancing various teaching styles and approaches.

It is great having a beautiful, aesthetic learning space but more importantly that space needs to deliver results: encouraging collaboration, improving workflow, and increasing both student and staff productivity. When designed properly, a lecture theatre doesn’t have to be a ‘just a room’ it can become an additional tool to aid in learning. Don’t underestimate the power of space planning!

I know you are probably sat there questioning, thinking how on earth could it make that much difference. So, let’s go into it a little deeper and show you …

There are lots of factors that you need to consider when space planning such as: seating, desk space, tiering, acoustics, interactive technology, and accessibility.

In order to encourage optimal efficiency and interest, learning spaces need to have comfortable seating with uninterrupted sightlines and inclusive to all students and members of staff. All desks should provide enough room for easy use of laptops, tablets and writing down notes without feeling restricted.

Incorporating a tiering system into a lecture theatre allows for improved sight lines due to the staggered raised height. Fixed tiered seating is one of the most popular seating arrangements used within universities. Finally, it is so important that accessibility is incorporated, lecture theatres need to be inclusive to all and therefore all mobility challenges need to be considered to allow ease of access.

Okay, okay so how does this all actually affect results and productivity?

With the right space planning, lecturers can incorporate active learning empowering students to take an active role in their learning and enabling them to work collaboratively in small groups, engage in enquiry based, problem solving and discovery learning.

Group engagement can be really beneficial to some student’s learning and development, working together and sharing their thoughts. Lecturer theatres with smart planning can promotes peer-to-peer learning, critical thinking, cooperation and sharing, as well as stimulation.

Collaborating and working with others is a big part of the working world for many people, more universities are beginning to incorporate spaces for applied learning. Replicating a career environment can help prepare students for potential challenges and situations they may face during their future careers.

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The way everyone is working, and learning is changing, from working from home to more collaborative work. These changes are slowly finding their way into our university lecture theatres as well, changing furniture and layout design to optimise space and learning opportunities.

?

Effective space planning is essential to supporting and enhancing various teaching styles and approaches.

It is great having a beautiful, aesthetic learning space but more importantly that space needs to deliver results: encouraging collaboration, improving workflow, and increasing both student and staff productivity. When designed properly, a lecture theatre doesn’t have to be a ‘just a room’ it can become an additional tool to aid in learning. Don’t underestimate the power of space planning!

I know you are probably sat there questioning, thinking how on earth could it make that much difference. So, let’s go into it a little deeper and show you …

There are lots of factors that you need to consider when space planning such as: seating, desk space, tiering, acoustics, interactive technology, and accessibility.

In order to encourage optimal efficiency and interest, learning spaces need to have comfortable seating with uninterrupted sightlines and inclusive to all students and members of staff. All desks should provide enough room for easy use of laptops, tablets and writing down notes without feeling restricted.

Incorporating a tiering system into a lecture theatre allows for improved sight lines due to the staggered raised height. Fixed tiered seating is one of the most popular seating arrangements used within universities. Finally, it is so important that accessibility is incorporated, lecture theatres need to be inclusive to all and therefore all mobility challenges need to be considered to allow ease of access.

?

?

Okay, okay so how does this all actually affect results and productivity?

?

With the right space planning, lecturers can incorporate active learning empowering students to take an active role in their learning and enabling them to work collaboratively in small groups, engage in enquiry based, problem solving and discovery learning.

Group engagement can be really beneficial to some student’s learning and development, working together and sharing their thoughts. Lecturer theatres with smart planning can promotes peer-to-peer learning, critical thinking, cooperation and sharing, as well as stimulation.

Collaborating and working with others is a big part of the working world for many people, more universities are beginning to incorporate spaces for applied learning. Replicating a career environment can help prepare students for potential challenges and situations they may face during their future careers.