For decades, school classes have looked the same with the set of different desks angled to face the front, where a teacher sits to address the audience. Today, the “classroom” looks much different, and there is an increasing need for a new approach to traditional classroom design with improvements in instructional methods and a better awareness of the learning process. Once students are brought back to class, they will be expecting a different approach to learning.

It was popular for schools to have dedicated computer labs or special access to library computers in the past. Moreover, many K-12 schools have started investing in computers and tablets for students’ educational use directly in the class. When technology plays an increasingly important role in learning, it should be at the core of modern classroom architecture. The best learning environments incorporate technology, collaboration, and teacher instruction, which creates a more interactive learning environment.

Modern Classrooms Have A Flexible Classroom Layout

To encourage collective working, new classrooms step away from the conventional classroom configuration to favor a more open setup. For instance, active learning has been shown to maximize student results: one study showed that in a conventional, lecture-based class, students who used active learning approaches learned twice as much as those learning.

Students are involved in their learning through various events, such as class meetings or completing assignments in small groups, instead of merely listening to a teacher’s lecture.

It is also essential to provide a classroom tailored to accommodate multiple forms of learning activities. Instead of being rooted in a conventional classroom setup on individual desks, students need to travel about and gather together when appropriate.

It’s smart to invest in flexible furniture to optimize versatility and make it easier to adjust the classroom setup: wheeled desks and chairs and furniture that is light and easy for students to switch around as needed.

Delivers Students-Focused Education & Experience

One of the most significant environmental factors that influence the quality of teaching is noise levels. Many schools are now working hard to enhance speech clarity in the classroom: it is becoming more critical for schools to use technologies to reinforce the teacher’s voice.

This, however, is counterproductive to the overall classroom environment. Instead, to minimize ambient noise levels, new classrooms could look for potential design options. Many schools have already begun using acoustic ceiling tiles and carpeted floors: which can be significant contributing factors. 

Fosters Healthy Learning Environment

Developing a supportive and positive learning atmosphere, encouraging fitness and wellbeing, and mitigating illness that could lead to students skipping classes and precious study time is vital for modern classrooms. Many nature considerations influence health and wellbeing:

• Indoor Air Quality – a host of health issues, including lung infections, asthma, and headaches, as well as general exhaustion, may be caused by low air quality.
• Acoustics – elevated levels of ambient noise are associated with high tension levels and can cause long-term health problems.
• Light – it can induce eye pressure and headaches if lighting conditions in the classroom are too low. Similarly, you can face glare issues if it’s too light, causing eye pressure and visual distress.

The best classrooms are environments that create a safe atmosphere that eliminates external obstacles to learning and understanding and maximizes student opportunities for achievement.

Modernizing classroom designs would help match learning environments with the students’ functional and psychological needs.

Propelling the “Modern Classroom” Forward

Teachers and K-12 Tech Directors seek to redefine what the new classroom looks like. By leveraging technology in various ways, collectively, we can get to a truly collaborative, stimulating, and highly productive modern classroom.