When designing a space for Authentic and Real-World Learning, it’s important to keep in mind flexibility and agility of furniture.  Students needs opportunities to collaborate with peers and define solutions to problems, but also need space to process information and complete tasks independently.

As a way to support students in collaboration, we need to rethink the learning spaces in which our students live every day. Flexible and agile furniture, along with different break out spaces and places to work are essential.  

Spaces designed for communication need to allow for delivery of information in a variety of ways. This might include digital, verbal, as well as visual, where all involved can actively contribute to the conversation. A “living room feel” where comfort and spontaneity can happen, are important.

Designing creative learning spaces means making sure all students ideas, suggestions, questions, and brainstorms they bring into a conversation, are valued and given the opportunity to bring “knowledge from an abstract to a product.”  Creative learning must entail a combination of both divergent and convergent thinking, where the learner can engage in problems solving and producing ideas, to breaking away and processing information and how to deliver content.

Flexibility, agility, access to technology, and lighting are important when designing critical thinking spaces. Students needs opportunities to practice a variety of skills such as collaboration, communication and exploring creativity. Spaces where learning can quickly shift from instructor to small group, where the space encourages different shared user experiences, to ultimately learner centered independent space, are essential.

Contemporary societies are marked by new global trends—economic, cultural, technological, and environmental shifts that are part of a rapid and uneven wave of globalization. The growing global interdependence that characterizes our time calls for a generation of individuals who can engage in effective global problem solving and participate simultaneously in local, national, and global civic life.

Personalized learning spaces are uniquely constructed to meet the needs and learning goals of individual students.  These spaces may look different from room to room, student to student, and activity to processing of content. Generally speaking, personalized learning spaces are flexible and agile, and the user [student] is cognizant of how to manipulate the space to meet their learning needs.

When designing spaces for technology, it’s important to keep in mind how we might bring together people, places and data, in a stimulating and engaging manner. Authors of The Third Plus Teacher state, “make sure a classroom has the capacity to link into learning opportunities beyond its four walls--even beyond the earth.”  Flexibility in the room set-up, where real-world situations can be simulated and “kids are given the chance to solve authentic problems,” are essential (Third Teacher Plus).