What is a classroom? Is it that square, boring space where teachers and students spend much of lives between September and June? Most classrooms aren't designed for how students learn and teachers teach these days. In fact, the design of classrooms hasn't changed much since the days of your great grandparents!
But in the Classroom of the (Near) Future things could be different. Reimagine the design of a 21st century classroom, but do not think your imagination has to go to 2050! What can you do tomorrow to make your classroom a futuristic model that speaks to our learning world today?
Let’s get started on the challenge to design a classroom of the (near) future.
Design Challenge Background
It is no secret that we all learn differently. And we also learn in different ways than our parents or grandparents did. What kind of physical space is needed to encourage new ways of thinking, synthesizing information, working amongst peers, and engaging with a world beyond the classroom's four walls? How does a classroom make it possible for students and teachers to embrace this new reality? How does our use of technology shape the design of this space?
Design Challenge Brief
Your challenge is to redesign your classroom and rethink how it should, or could, function as technology advances and our notion of study and sharing changes accordingly. What does a classroom look like that is designed around a new approach to the world? Our guess is that your design won't feature rows of desks and teacher lecturing from a podium or a chalkboard!
Design Program / Parameters
You may redesign the interior of your existing classroom(s), expand on the existing space, or design a completely new addition on to your school building.
Your design should contain all the spaces and functions required for your general classroom needs – you could consider new ways of sitting (or even standing to work), as well as book and media storage (books are still cool to have around), space for the teacher (or maybe the teacher moves and the students stay).
You may also want to include access to a cafe, activity or information kiosk, or a workshop/maker space. You should also consider sustainability issues and the environmental impact of your design. (Example: Does your classroom of the future include a garden or energy lab?)