How Flexible Learning Spaces Support Student Learning

If our goal is to support students in becoming self-directed, independent and interdependent, then we must provide a learning environment that supports them in doing so.

If students are to develop 21st century skills such as Creativity, Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving, Collaboration, the Ability to Access and Analyze Information, and if they are to become Innovative and Entrepreneurial, Agile and Adaptable and demonstrate Initiative, then we must provide a learning environment that supports the development of these skills.

However, the vast majority of learning environments do not support students in this way. In fact, our schools are structured in ways that create actual obstacles to students being able to develop these characteristics and skills. We have listed those obstacles elsewhere. Please read the article, Overcoming the Obstacles , as well.

Today's article, though, specifically addresses the design of the Physical Environment - that is, Facilities and Schoolyards . It is time to lose the 'cells and bells' method of school design. They are obsolete relics of a bygone era. Facilities and schoolyards must be intentionally designed to support modes of learning for the 21st century.

The school building itself drives, or sustains, many of the obstacles to 21st century learning. The "cells and bells" derive from the factory model design of the building - long hallways with classrooms (cells) lined up along both sides. Students are organized into groups of approximately 20 to 40 per classroom, and in general, are sorted by their age. Teachers are usually assigned to teach a single subject/discipline per class period, and this is usually accomplished within a 45-minute period of time.

Students then move from one room to the next, getting mini-doses of content, separated by discipline. I call this the Pac-Man Curriculum . Like Pac-Man racing through the maze, gobbling as many dots as possible, students race through the maze of classes each day (anywhere from six to eleven per day), gobbling up as many content standards and facts as they can. Rarely are there any connections between or among these classes, rarely are they relevant to the students' interests, nor are they connected to real life.

Go into any classroom and chances are very good that you will find rows of student desks which are facing the front of the classroom. There you will see a teacher who is usually lecturing (not always, but usually). The teacher decides what the students will learn, how they will learn it, and when. The teacher also decides how the students will be assessed - and when. The teacher does most of the talking and even controls most of when and how students will speak. In most classes, students must raise their hands for permission to speak or for permission to leave their seats. This is known as the teacher-centered classroom. See my article, The Cemetery Method .

You can see that this experience, every day, all day, cannot and will not help students develop the abilities, habits, and skills deemed necessary for success in life in the 21st century. Please see these three very important quotes on our page, Why Change?

So, what type of experiences do students need in order to become self-directed, independent and interdependent learners? What experiences will help them to become truly creative, innovative, entrepreneurs, leaders, thinkers, problem-solvers, etc?

We need a learning environment that is intentionally designed to support this type of learning. How do students learn in 21st century schools? 21st century students learn through independent study, collaborating and teaching each other, authentic experiments, conducting research, designing projects, developing products, creating products (evidence of their learning), reading, writing and analyzing, applying mathematical and scientific knowledge and concepts, having discussions with other students as well as adults (teachers, mentors, experts), asking questions and finding answers. 21st century students organize their own schedules, track their own learning and assess their own learning.

The learning spaces must be designed to support this type of learning.

First of all, eliminate the cells and bells. Instead, design Smaller Learning Communities. These are physical areas which can accommodate up to 150 students and a few teachers. Within this SLC are a variety of distinct learning spaces created to serve various purposes.

This can be achieved either through building a new school facility or by remodeling an existing one. For example, watch this short video (l.5 minutes).

In addition to the large, flexible Learning Commons, there are various Learning Studios or Learning Suites. Combined with other spaces, they make up a Smaller Learning Community.

One way to think about the types of spaces needed is a concept articulated by an Australian educator, Dr. David Thornburg, known as Campfires, Caves and Watering Holes . A campfire is a place where a group may gather to learn from an expert. The cave is a private space where a student would go to reflect and/or focus. The watering hole refers refers to an informal space where peers can share information and discoveries, teaching and learning simultaneously.

We have created a list of specific types of learning spaces we recommend for inclusion within your SLCs. Some of these might be shared with another SLC. Please click here (or the link below) to view a wide and wonderful variety of excellent learning spaces you can incorporate into your 21st century school - from amazing teacher collaboration offices to treehouse classrooms, and features such as a Waterfall Wall or a Vertical Garden, which add so much to the beauty of the school as well as enhancing air quality and serving as yet another part of the "teaching building"!

$$$ These buildings are far less expensive to construct than a traditional, cells and bells school!

This list includes both indoor and outdoor learning spaces for 21st century schools!

Teacher Collaboration?

The best case scenario is having the interdisciplinary team of teachers from a single SLC sharing an office, preferably physically within the SLC.?

Have glass walls to overlook student work area.?Have desks or large conference table, plenty of storage, shelving, place to lock personal items, whiteboards for planning, etc. Include views of the outdoors. Have a place where private phone calls may be made.

Alton Brown Studio?- Culinary Arts

Chef Alton Brown had a television show,?Good Eats .?He integrated all disciplines as well as many connections to popular culture, making the show entertaining as well as informative. A culinary arts studio/program integrating all disciplines is an excellent addition to your campus.?Have door to outside garden and outdoor dining area.

Espresso Studio

Collaboration, social interaction and independent study;?access to snacks and beverages.

Magnificat High School, designed by Fielding International, converted their traditional, institutional-style cafeteria into this lovely, welcoming place for students.?The space is used all day as an extended area for study.

Da Vinci Studio?- Art and Science

Why not model the ultimate interdisciplinary Leonardo da Vinci, inventor, scientist and artist?

Art and science lab, includes a wet and messy project space.?Large, open floor space for building projects, and a garage door or sliding door to open the studio up to the commons or the outdoors.

This studio is at the Poughkeepsie Day School designed by Fielding International.

RTF Studios?- radio, television and film production.

There is no reason why your students cannot run their own radio and television broadcasting station!?

And what could be more rigorous, as well as FUN, than film production??

Celebrate at the end of the year with a Student Film Festival - complete with the red carpet and formal dress!?

Dance Studio?- for ballet, yoga and pilates.

This studio is at the Anne Frank Inspire Academy in San Antonio, Texas, and is designed by Fielding International.

Home Base, or Personal Space, for students.?

Some high schools and middle schools have an area which contains full size desks or cubicles for each student.

Music Studio and Music Production Lab/Studio?

For instrumental (band, orchestra, individual) and voice studio, and lab with?consoles for editing musical recordings.

Nest or Cave?- place for one to three students to work quietly; a secluded location.

The slats to the left are the walls to the "nest", which juts out over the learning commons. This is a quiet place where up to 3 students may go to think, read, talk, reflect.

This is at the Anne Frank Inspire Academy in San Antonio, Texas. It was designed by Fielding International.

Terraces/Patios?

A relaxing place for studying or discussions outdoors.

Maker Space or IDEA Lab

Library?- or some mini-library centers in different locations.?

Note:?some schools partner with a local library instead of having their own.?There are also virtual library options.

Kiva

The term?kiva?is derived from community gathering spaces that are partly underground in Pueblo Indian villages.?

Schools also may have a version of the kiva, that is, a space that encourages small and large groups to congregate.

Unlike the auditorium, it can also function as a place where smaller groups of students can gather, work, socialize and collaborate.?It can also support distance learning, peer tutoring and independent study.

Waterfall Wall

A spectacular?entry to any school, not only are these wall waterfalls incredibly beautiful, they produce soothing sounds and enhance air quality.

(I would not have one with this much flow, something smoother. I would also make it two stories tall.)

Vertical Garden Wall

A fantastic option for a spectacular entry to your school!

They are beautiful, they enhance air quality, and these gardens connect to science, art and environmental studies.

TO BE ADDED:?Student Conference Table/Room, Seminar Room,?Presentation Space and more . . .

OUTDOOR LEARNING SPACES

Living Schoolyard

Not only do Living Schoolyards boost academic achievement, they are critical to a child's (and an adult's) physical and emotional health.

Incorporating these schoolyards into the curriculum and lives of our students opens the door to a magnitude of experiences which will help our students develop global competencies, ecoliteracy, physical fitness, nutrition, creativity, collaboration, independent and interdependent skills.?Read more here.

Edible Schoolyard

A full time gardener/teacher can ensure that the garden is maintained and can collaborate with classroom teachers.

The lessons taught in the garden and the garden/kitchen extend the curriculum which students encounter inside.

Garden Kitchen

If students grow it, then they should get to cook it and eat it!?

As a big believer in Edible Schoolyards, we also strongly encourage schools to add a garden kitchen to their campus.

Be inspired by this wonderful?Kickstarter video ?done by a school raising funds for their Science Teaching Kitchen! They raised just over $60,000 for their school located in Southeast Washington, D.C. back in 2011. This link also outlines how they used the money, including a 1,700 square foot kitchen with fence and outdoor seating area. They also hired a part-time teacher to run and manage the program, and developed a curriculum.

Maybe your students could create a Kickstarter or Indiegogo campaign for your school!

Koi Pond

Another soothing and beautiful space on your campus also becomes another nature learning center.

Students could do much of the design and building of this pond and its surroundings!

Treehouse Classroom

What a fun and unique addition to your campus!?

This treehouse, built by?Pete Nelson - the Treehouse Master ?- is at the Anne Frank Inspire Academy in San Antonio.

Nature Trail

Outdoor Classroom?- this one is built out over a body of water at the Zoo School.

The School of Environmental Studies in Apple Valley, MN, is adjacent to the Minnesota Zoo.?Students collaborate with the zoo staff in a variety of projects, including conducting research for the zoo. Students also conduct research for the City Parks Department.

This is what the classroom looked like the day I visited!

TO BE ADDED:?Labyrinth,?Amphitheater, Greenhouse, . . .?

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MUST READ - BOOKS AND MORE FOR "GREEN TEACHERS"

Click this link for the best resources for teachers, as well as for parents, grandparents, business leaders and other community members!

Learn how to connect "nature", "kids" and "your curriculum"!

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As you can see, there are many exciting and amazing ways to organize people in a newly designed learning environment. We need to eliminate the cells and bells; they are actually a detriment to authentic learning!

Please do not build a new school or remodel an old one until you've talked to us!

Anne Shaw, Director

21st Century Schools

[email protected]