Future Classroom Space
A "space" must exist for learning, but what does it look like, and how does it work?
The information below investigates how a future classroom is anticipated to function. Information on what is still needed for Canadian K-12 classroom environments is identified, along with anticipated building standards, and finally, our third engagement activity: a 3-dimensional immersive experience to illustrate these possibilities!
What do we know about the future?
Many have asked, in the future, will we still need a classroom? Our answer is yes. What else will stay the same? What will change?
As much as things have and will continue to change in Canadian K-12 educational environments, in the near future of our projections, we have made a few key distinctions of things that will remain, and what will change:
Physical spaces will remain: synchronous learning and social-emotional learning paramount to student success occurs best in person, and with many physical environments already constructed for educational purposes, these investments will not be abandoned in the short term future.
Hybrid spaces will remain: the advantages afforded by hybrid learning will not disappear, and educational environments will need to accommodate hybrid functionalities in their space.
With increased technological aspects to learning, data storage will become (more) critical: "Cloud" spaces exist now for student/teacher/family access to learning content, these needs will continue to expand in the near future. How educational institutions store this extensive data, and how they protect it, will be key considerations in the future.
Learning platforms such as Learning Management Systems (LMS) will remain: LMS and similar systems will continue to be used, however it is expected that these platforms become less rigid and begin to integrate more functionalities: video conferencing, brainstorming, discussions, virtual environments, etc.
Curriculums will not disappear: Education needs structure. Despite major overhauls due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is not expected that curriculums or similar learning structures will disappear, but they will morph into more suitable structures for today's student. Regardless of this process, learning activities must remain tied to the purpose of learning.
Budgets will continue to affect learning environments: Many technologies and upgrades come with a price tag. It is expected that nearly all classroom spaces will require upgrades from minimal to larger cost ranges in order to provide the new "benchmark" in education.
What new considerations do we have?
Construction and Building Standards
As cleanliness criteria become front of mind, and sustainability and performance accountability even more required, there are a few construction and building standards which will become more prevalent in educational environments:
LEED Building Standard
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) focuses on:
Sustainable construction design
Energy and water savings
Reduced waste (from construction and operation of spaces)
Improved air quality
Utilization of 'green' materials (locally sourced, non-toxic, sustainably produced, rapidly renewable, etc.)
The WELL Building Standard
The WELL Building Standard focuses on:
User well-being in built environments
Air, water, light, sound, and thermal quality of spaces, ability to control these aspects
Access to water and nourishment
Use of non-toxic materials
Promotion of movement in space
Priority of mental health policies and support, and knowledge of healthy building practices
Net Zero Energy Standards
Net Zero Energy design focuses on constructing spaces with on-site renewable energy. A Net Zero building only uses as much energy as they produce from their on-site renewably energy.
Passive House Design
Passive House design focuses on using less to begin with, rather than improving use. A true Passive House design is self-sufficient building, needing no additional energy to operate.
So what will this classroom look like?
3-Dimensional Virtual Tour - Engagement #3
As part of this OER, we have created what we consider to be the new "benchmark" classroom environment for you to explore! This 3-dimensional environment will take you through the past, present, future (and beyond!) of what we consider to be the new "benchmark" for classrooms in the future.
You will see in our future space:
Flexible furniture and power access for multiple set-ups and ease of use
Collaborative arrangements for students to learn together (social-emotional skills)
Hybrid-enabled technology: additional screens, motion-tracking cameras
Technologies to enable fully virtual environments
For short-term futures where cleanliness and cleanability are paramount, a sink within the classroom
For anyone who CANNOT navigate the 3-dimensional environment, the below video captures a guided tour - you may have to 'pause' the video to read relevant text.
What comes next?
