The Classroom

School design has the opportunity to give form to these emerging educational concepts and it can all begin with redefining the idea of the classroom. On the pyramid of school spaces, the classroom is located at the top being that it is the pinnacle of where learning occurs. The classroom acts as symbol of an educational philosophy. Traditionally the classroom space is based on a pre-determined number of students who will all learn the same lesson at the same time by one person. This typical design infers that the learning takes place within a linear fashion coming from the instructor to the students. Thus, a 700 square - foot room with the teacher at the front of the room before the students who are seated in rows is the appropriate design for this learning environment. The original classroom- based school model makes sense that each classroom is located next to the other along a long double loaded corridor.



This diagram is a modification from the Traditional Classroom diagram from Design Patterns. http://www.designshare.com/index.php/design-patterns/traditional-classroom.


Current teaching pedagogies are moving away from the old paradigm to a more collaborative team teaching and student driven learning projects. Now, the old teacher to student ratio of 1:25 has evolved to the ratio of 4:100. This shift allows for a more sinuous and flexible learning environment. With the school existing as a conglomeration of amorphous spaces, each student is able to work and learn in his/her own manner within a group or individually. The diagram below demonstrates this idea as three different learning spaces are brought together; each of which is connected to a larger common space. This scheme allows for individual exploration of a variety of interests. The inherent flexibility of the interior and exterior space is supportive to the changing programs and functions.






This diagram is a modification from the Flexible Small Community. http://www.designshare.com/index.php/articles/six-essential-elements/