“The classroom of the future is nothing like you remember from
school.”
Well, isn’t that the truth? I am
only 27 and even I can tell you that classrooms today are nothing like my
classrooms when I was in elementary and middle school. I read this fascinating article about the
classrooms that we can expect to see in the future. Kyle Bowen, the director or education
technology and Penn State University recently met with leaders of several
educational institutions from Australia to show them some innovative learning
spaces he has used around PSU’s campus.
Bowen
states, “What we want to do is design
experiences and not spaces. To think about the outcome first and then design
spaces around that.” Bowen has been
working to create all different types of learning spaces, all with different
purposes. Features of the room include a
floor that invites students to sit on it, posture-improving chairs that
encourage students to “lean in” to conversation, 3D printers, and virtual
reality spaces.
Just
by looking at the pictures in this article, it makes me want to walk into a
classroom like this and explore!
Natalie,
ReplyDeleteI often times say or hear my colleagues say, "teaching is so different than what we learned in college." Just yesterday, I met with my superintendent, business manager, principal, and maintenance director to discuss the recently board approved renovations to my library media/classroom center. We are converting this area to a media cafe. I never imagined that I would be teaching in a media cafe! We designed and are furnishing an open concept learning commons area that will have a cafe, library, stop motion animation area, digital video area, classroom area, and computer lab area complete with charging stations and couches. It will be a challenge this first year, but I am so excited to delve into true, authentic 21st century learning.
Thanks for sharing your article,
Amy