Learning Spaces: A Change of Tone

Photo from Next Generation Learning Spaces Asia.

Today, I read a very inspiring article by Bella HaThuy Lai on today’s learning spaces. Next Generation Learning Spaces Asia covers five schools that have not only changed the way students learn but where they are doing the learning.  These schools have provided a variety of different spaces and programs to promote productivity and creativity.

The freedom of movement and flexibility exhibited within these examples show how important it is for the school design to reflect its pedagogy and principles. If we are pushing toward student-centric and independent learning, then we should aim for that in all aspects of learning and teaching–that would include classroom design. Rigid rows of desks do not reflect the free-form thought and liberated creativity that these schools are trying to promote; rather, it may be that it ends up hampering the very entity.

We’re picking up wind

photo credit: Adventure via photopin (license)

The journey to building a school from the ground up is a tough one, filled with a lot of prayer, passion, uncertainty, confidence, and, sometimes, the lack thereof. A lot has happened since 2014–the year my mom decided to start a school. It had been a desire that God had been placing on her heart for about a decade, and now, it’s becoming a reality. I never did think that I would be a part of something so great, although in second grade I recall wanting to be an art teacher. I also never thought I’d go into the education field. Having gotten a degree in interior design, I was wanting to use that, but I live in a city where–while design is happening in terms of historic preservation and building renovations–interior design isn’t the so-called top job. When I finally asked the Lord what I should do with my life and my seemingly wasted degree, I got my answer, and now I am working on my masters in educational technology.

“Starbucksing” the Classroom

“Starbucks is for communication, and rows are for compliance.”

–from Do Students Learn Better in Chairs or Couches?

Today, I listened to a podcast from Vicki Davis (CoolCatTeacher), who interviewed Oskar Cymerman on his fresh design concept: “The Starbucks Classroom.” You can check that out here Do Students Learn Better in Chairs or Couches? The quote above really resonated with me when I heard it because that is exactly what it’s like. Starbucks is the real world; the real world features collaborative, free spaces, although it may not always offer a Caramel Machiatto. As an interior designer, I was really interested in this podcast because I love design, but I always find it a struggle to make that design happen when there’s a lack of money or a lack of a clear vision. When these two things are not present, it is difficult to accomplish any design project, but the latter, I believe is much more important the former. Having a plan for designing a classroom is highly paramount; it is not enough to simply throw in furniture for the sake of doing so. That’s like tossing technology into a school without a plan and expecting everyone to know what to do.