Maximizing space doesn’t have to be supported by an annual fund or development campaign. In fact, designing classroom spaces that optimize collaboration as well individual thinking can be done with a no-frills approach.
Small adjustments in the learning environment go a long way. Some ideas shared by teachers across various blog sites include painting a wall with whiteboard or blackboard paint to create a giant canvas for sharing and generating ideas, creating nests in the classroom that are reserved spaces for students collaborating on projects, and creating cubical-like spaces around desks with standing whiteboards where students can go to study quietly. The goal is to create spaces that encourage collaboration as well as individualized learning, so a mixture of these ideas (if space allows) could really increase student experiences.
Simple activity centers set up in classrooms also enrich the learning process. Classes with multiple projects going on at once may have centers designated to each. Segmenting such spaces doesn’t have to be costly. Some creative ideas across the Internet for doing so include setting up and decorating large refrigerator boxes from appliance stores (these are typically large enough for one or two students) to create video booths, rehabbing an old cabinet from a second-hand store for magazines and printed resources, and inflating balance balls (such as the ones that are used for stretching in gyms) in front of classroom windows where the class's science project is kept.
For middle and high schools where students switch classes, some ideas worth considering include transforming unused spaces into student areas, offering empty wall spaces to student art projects, and segmenting large spaces to create intimate study spaces. Small closets that are no longer in use could make excellent study areas, or even a video/technology booth for students to work on interactive projects. Large rooms, such as student lounges and cafeterias, can be segmented to create study pods. These pods can be as simple as large beanbag chairs and tables with charging stations for smart devices.
Ideas for changing traditional classroom spaces into collaborative learning environments are endless online.
Right now, collaborative learning is a buzz phrase in the educational community. Maximizing spaces is part of engaging students in the collaborative learning process, but it’s not all there is to it. The true definition of collaborative learning is equal balance in sharing knowledge. Encourage teachers to share their authority along with their knowledge with their students by creating an environment that is open to discussions and group experiments. Collaborative classrooms are ones where students can learn from everyone else—everyone contributes to the learning atmosphere.
Additional ISM articles of interest
ISM Monthly Update for Business Managers Vol. 8 No. 9 How to Expand Without Expanding—One School's Solution to the Challenges of Space Restriction
ISM Monthly Update for Division Heads Vol. * No. 1 21st Century Learning: Can the Classroom Be a Game Space?
Additional ISM articles of interest for Consortium Gold members
I&P Vol. 30 No. 8 Limited Area, Moderate-Cost Space Reconfigurations
I&P Vol. 36 No. 16 Space Needs and Your School’s Schedule
I&P Vol. 28 No. 3 Planning School Grounds for Outdoor Learning
