Design Principles for the 21st-Century Classroom
Universal, one-size-fits-all classrooms cannot match the demands of the
21st century. Instead, campus planners and administrators should
consider a range of solutions to fit different academic disciplines,
faculty and student needs, and administrative requirements. The best way
to provide that range is with a flexible learning environment. Here are
some of the design principles Steelcase has developed for these
innovative classrooms.
1. Design for multiple rhythms in the same classroom.
Classrooms should support easy transitions to different learning modes,
offer different zones for varied activities and that support the
constructivist pedagogy being adopted by many educators, and its five
phases: engage, explore, explain, evaluate, and extend. "Learning styles
vary by age, gender, and country of origin," noted researcher Elise
Valoe, design researcher at Grand Rapids, MI-based Steelcase, Inc. “It's
critical that the classroom has the flexibility to support the
different ways people learn."
Sam Miller, AIA, CEFPI, LEED-AP, a principal at Klipp, a Denver-based
architecture firm, offers an example of classroom flexibility in Skyline
High School, Longmont, CO. “We’re just finishing this project,” he
observes. “Our focus group discussions centered on flexibility and more
student-centered learning. The way we accomplished that was by not
installing fixed casework, as well as by installing as many writing
surfaces on all four walls in a classroom as possible. This allows
teachers to set up their classrooms based on the curriculum and even the
day or semester or year.”
Similarly,
Insights, a publication of Charlotte, NC-based VS
Furniture, notes that flexible furniture solutions have the versatility
to meet a variety of classroom possibilities and learning needs,
including hands-on projects in small groups, large group discussions,
whole group presentations, student presentation and performance, and
individual student work.
2. Allow everyone to be seen and heard.
It is not only possible to make every seat in the house the best seat,
it’s important to teaching and learning. Students shouldn’t have to
crane their necks or twist around in their seats to see content on the
board. They need adequate horizontal work surfaces for tools,
technology, and materials, and they need vertical work surfaces for
sharing information. Instructors should have visual and physical access
to every student, and students need similar access to course content and
other students.
3. Take advantage of new media.
When it comes to technology, students and instructors have one thing in
common: they learn from their peers. Gen Y students are digital natives,
comfortable living with new technology. Instructors tend to be digital
adopters and need to incorporate technology into their curricula, as
well as integrate knowledge of student thinking and learning, subject
content, and knowledge of technology. It’s a tall order, yet facilitated
by integrating mixed media that can be used easily by both students and
instructors.
Steelcase research shows people collaborate and learn more effectively
if information is democratized and shared equally and easily. Creating
spaces that shift the dynamic from a presenter-led discussion to a group
discussion where everyone can participate and share information
enhances collaboration. As a result of the research, the company
developed media:scape, which incorporates technology in the furniture
and allows users to quickly connect their laptops or mobile devices and
switch back and forth between multiple users.
Technology discussions are also happening in the classroom design
studio. “We’ve had some interesting conversations with administrators
and teachers,” says Miller, “regarding the use of interactive
whiteboards. If you do use them, they’re typically mounted on the wall,
and that limits flexibility with the rest of the classroom. You can
achieve greater flexibility with a laptop and small projector and
wireless access to the Internet.”
4. Provide seating that supports active learning.
When a student enters a classroom and sees row-by-column seating,
observed Dr. Lennie Scott-Webber, IIDA, IDEC, NCIDQ, Interior Design
& Fashion Department professor and chair at Radford University in
Virginia, and a consultant for IN_sync: Education Design Consulting, he
says to himself, “Oh, I just have to sit here and takes notes. Nothing
more is expected of me.” “Our world is too complex and we can no longer
think that way,” she said. “If a student enters a classroom and sees an
innovative layout, he realizes that something different is going to
happen and he has permission to participate. It takes past expectations
and throws them out the window and allows both faculty and students to
say, ‘I know there’s a different behavior expected of me,’ and that a
good thing.”
Innovative layouts can’t happen when students struggle to move fixed
tablet arm chairs when it's time for interactive learning. Tablet arm
desks are too heavy, glides don't glide, and many students simply give
up trying to maneuver into a true, collaborative seating arrangement.
Helping to fill this need, Steelcase design researchers created a chair
that better supports social and active learning. It's designed for quick
and easy transitions between learning modes, with an adjustable work
surface that lets students of all sizes and shapes feel comfortable and a
base that doubles as a storage shelf.
Also keep in mind that not every classroom can boast flexibility. There
is always going to be a need for the auditorium and lecture hall as part
of the instructional strategy, and these spaces simply cannot
accommodate flexibility and collaboration. “Nor do you necessarily want a
great deal of movement when the educational style is lecture,” said Deb
McDermott, director of Marketing for Grand Rapids, MI-based American
Seating. However, these spaces can be designed with comfortable,
low-maintenance seating that is easy to clean around.
It’s clear that a transition to a more contemporary classroom design
that meets the needs of today’s learners is underway. For the transition
to continue to move forward, more time and effort is required. This
includes listening and participation on the part of designers and
architects; research, design, and performance measurement on the part of
furniture manufacturers; and willingness on the part of instructors and
administrators. The transition will ultimately result in greater
student engagement and better learning outcomes, thus earning an A+.
Compiled using research from Steelcase and other educational furniture providers by Ellen Kollie.