How do we inspire students to be lifelong learners? It鈥檚 a daunting question, and we鈥檙e inspired to answer it through design. One thing we know is that today鈥檚 students will need to be flexible, adaptable, and always learning in their professional careers. According to the , Gen-Z students will hold 18 different jobs across six different careers after entering the workforce.
Learning spaces should reflect the needs of these students at every grade level. Our approach to education design answers this critical need through constructivist theory and applied learning principles. We know students learn best by doing and transferring knowledge to new applications. By designing a space that engages students and allows them to garner knowledge through wonder, inquiry, and hands-on experiences, we are best preparing them for their future by creating learners for life.
As designers, we apply these principles for all ages from early childhood through high school and beyond. At every level, the space is tailored to the specific needs of that cohort of students.
For early learners and into elementary school, inquiry guides learning. Messy areas and tinker spaces allow students to be active. Here, students can explore with cause-and-effect measures that guide their learning. Engaging in this model at a younger age creates the foundation for being a lifelong learner.
As students develop and grow in their educational journey, these skills are used to explore different career paths through career and technical education programming. This ability to disseminate interests, and develop learning skills, equips students with the right tools to be successful in the future.
It starts with providing spaces for students to engage with and activate their learning environments. I wouldn鈥檛 ask someone to cook a four-course dinner in the bedroom of their house 鈥� the same thinking is attributed in school design.
In early learning environments we design tinker spaces and makerspaces that inspire and encourage collaboration. They are dedicated to applied learning processes where students learn with experimentation and exploration. These spaces are equipped with tools, furniture, and amenities that are usually not found in what we think of as a traditional classroom and feature open designs that accommodate larger cohorts, and the space needed for active hands-on learning.
Some schools are fortunate enough to have dedicated applied learning labs. Others are finding creative solutions to incorporate this type of curriculum into an existing space or classroom. Either way, we also design with the educator in mind. These spaces are easily cleaned up, deconstructed, and flexible to be converted for different curriculum needs throughout the day.
These principles overflow into other areas of learning because students learn by utilizing the inquiry cycle. When we look at CTE opportunities in high school, we talk about students being able to window-shop their futures. These spaces immerse students in real world experiences specifically tailored to a unique career path. Students are exposed to career and educational opportunities they never thought possible or perhaps didn鈥檛 even know existed through their lived experiences. They tap into their interests through individual discovery and unlock the ability to apply personal passion and skill set to their careers.
Furniture is another way we can activate the same space in different ways. A future-ready learning environment includes a diverse set of flexible and adaptable classroom furniture. Some students learn best sitting at a desk, others learn better sitting on the floor, or on an elevated stool. Providing students with the autonomy to discover how they best learn is an important piece to the applied learning model. We can help perpetuate that process by giving them access to experiment with what suits their learning needs best.
This variety of furniture looks different at each age level. In early learning spaces and elementary schools, furniture is scaled appropriately. Options are whimsical and playful, allowing students to explore and build the environment where they learn best.
As students grow, so do school furnishings. Older students may see more age-appropriate options like elevated seating and lounge spaces. In CTE centers and designated CTE spaces, furniture begins to look more like what students will see in the workforce and is tailored to their career paths.
Whether we like to admit it or not, technology 鈥� namely AI 鈥� is here to stay and will be a significant part of our everyday lives, both professionally and personally. Learning environments and curriculum should reflect this and embrace it. Many districts around the world are now one to one, device to student 鈥� an excellent opportunity to leverage this access to information and discovery.
We keep this in mind in our designs in aspects like storage, outlet support, and other custodial elements, but also creative ways to incorporate the technology into parts of the classroom. By embracing the use of technology and allowing students to access the information they have at their fingertips, we鈥檙e enabling them to learn through research while modeling the real world they鈥檙e going to experience in their careers.
As students progress into middle school and high school, their learning spaces start to resemble and mirror real-world work environments. Career and technical education has never been more prevalent and a top priority for districts. These spaces allow for students to engage with and learn from industry partners in their communities to discover where their skill set and passions can take them in their careers.
Applied learning and learning through discovery and inquiry builds skills through experiences, knowledge, and research. As designers, we provide students and educators with spaces that enable them to unlock moments of discovery through inquiry. We鈥檙e preparing students for jobs and a workforce that doesn鈥檛 exist today but will in 20 years. We give students the ability to be lifelong learners, which empowers them to take on their future with confidence.
海角社区 Principal and Educational Learning Designer Dr. Marilyn Denison writes about the importance of flexible, adaptable learning environments in supporting inquiry-based learning. And shares how our BOLD鈩� process helps educators build future-ready spaces.
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