“If your projects are aimed at, SCHOOL AND ADAPTATION OF SPACES

1 year rice plant,

20 years plant a tree,

a century teaches men ”. (Chinese proverb)

Now more than ever, the management of spaces inside the classroom is a subject under constant discussion, due to the health emergency that has hit our country. The education sector, especially for primary and secondary school, in recent years, had already been affected by an evolution dictated by the increasing use of technology (for example with the introduction of IWBs) which has led to changes in the organization and classroom configuration.

According to research carried out in recent decades, “well-designed classrooms improve children’s academic achievement in reading, writing and mathematics” and “differences in air quality, color and light can increase learning progress in schools. primary, up to 16% in one year “.

Here we are talking about Classe 3.0 , a project in which the classroom is transformed into an active research laboratory, which combines space, technology and teaching.

Designing a flexible class involves:

• the organization of physical space, focusing on functional furnishings . Modular tables (rectangular, trapezoidal or wedge) and ergonomic seats . Agora area with soft colored blocks, perfect for promoting relaxation, concentration and constructive confrontation.
• The use of new technologies in communication.
• The application of innovative methodologies based on dialogue and collaboration between teachers and students.

How To Reconfigure The Spaces?

The “space” is seen as a fundamental element of innovation and its reconfiguration should include the division into work areas dedicated to:

1. SEARCH : area dedicated to the discovery made with group or individual work.
2. CREATE : space to give shape to imagination and creativity, with the realization of projects.
3. PRESENT : area where results are shared.
4. INTERACT : space for interaction between pupils and teacher.
5. EXCHANGE : area for collaboration.
6. DEVELOP : space for reflection, a comfortable environment.

What are the benefits of a reconfiguration of the spaces? 

For teachers:

• experiment with various teaching methodologies.
• develop forms of team teaching.
• encourage students to move and participate in different activities during the lesson.

For students:

• have access to technologies throughout the day.
• work as a team, collaborate and discuss ideas together.
• feel comfortable in more open spaces.

What are the difficulties of change?

This is a real challenge for some schools that do not have the necessary resources and space:

1. it is necessary to check the existing spaces in the school.
2. Creating a comfortable environment considering the lights, the acoustics, the colors, the air quality and last but not least the furniture that must be mobile and modern.
3. Change the type of teaching and the duration of the lessons.

In the Italian context, the realization of these new spaces is not an easy project to implement, as it requires a renovation of the school buildings and a higher qualification of the teachers regarding the use of technology.

In this period of health emergency it is also a random project, postponed to a date to be defined, but certainly current for school needs: functional spaces, teaching value and student satisfaction.