DESIGN BLUEPRINT FOR 21st CENTURY LEARNING SPACES
T H E F U T U R E I S N O W
Education holds the power to influence the world’s future. While the world has changed at breakneck speed, our education system didn’t. Transforming the current education system through innovative and contemporary teaching and learning methodologies is the need of the hour. To accommodate this change, learning spaces must evolve and transform into modern 21st Century Learning Spaces.
The government’s revamped National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is primarily developed based on the above premise. The policy aims to promote holistic, multidisciplinary and technology-led education. Some expected changes are:
Nurturing 21st-century skills – communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity
A shift from monologue to collaborative learning
Moving from content-based learning to experiential learning
Increased use of technology to aid learning
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Education in India is on the cusp of a REVOLUTION. Transforming from an Instruction mode to an Experiential mode, it is enabling the adoption of skills and knowledge that will stay with students for life.
Table of Contents
Trends that will shape the future of learning
The idea of a 21st century learning space
Adaptable
Inviting
Smart
Comfortable
Safe
Revolutionising learning with change in pedagogy
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Education in India is now more about the lifelong acquisition of skills and knowledge than simply learning. To address that, we at Godrej Interio have identified 4 trends that will shape the future of learning.
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Connectedness, Collaboration & Co-creation Learner-Centred Spaces Anywhere, anytime learning Technology, An Enabler
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21st Century Learning Spaces
Connectedness, Collaboration & Co-creation
The concept of teachers addressing a room full of students is increasingly a thing of the past. Learning can become more effective when students actively participate in meaningful, interactive sessions. The traditional classrooms will have to be replaced by learning areas that allow individuals, small and large groups to connect, collaborate and co-create, either face-to-face or virtually.
Adaptable | Smart
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Anywhere, Anytime Learning
Learning is no longer confined to the classroom; today, learning strives to be organic and experiential. It should come as much from textbooks and classrooms, as from the world beyond. Holistic development of students translates into the provision of endless, meaningful educational opportunities in a variety of settings that are conducive to learning.
Adaptable | Inviting | Smart
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Learner-Centred Spaces
Adaptable | Comfortable | Safe
Learning environments must support learner autonomy and engage them in independent as well as collaborative learning. It is essential to create an ergonomic and comfortable environment, indoors and outdoors. An ideal learning space should have both quiet and collaborative zones. Ergonomics, good posture, lighting, acoustics, ventilation and a flexible environment that creates variation, can improve students’ experience and create a deeply engaging learning space. Only when all the participants feel included, comfortable and safe, can they attain their full potential.
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Technology, An Enabler
Today, the teacher’s role is seen more as the “guide”. Teachers support students as they access information and use technology to take larger responsibility for their learning.
Adaptable | Smart
The role of technology in school is evolving from a confined computer class into a versatile learning tool that has changed how concepts are demonstrated, progress is assessed, etc. Technology is a pre-requisite for re-designing learning spaces to enable the new model of education.
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The Idea of a 21st Century Learning Space
21st-century learning spaces should accommodate the unique needs of each student. Further, they must support the positive human relationships needed for effective learning, both formally and informally. These spaces are student-centred and tech-enabled. They must enable individual and group learning, encourage innovation and foster a sense of healthy community.
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We, at Godrej Interio bring you the Design Blueprint for effective 21st Century Learning Spaces.
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Adaptable Inviting Smart Comfortable Safe
The 21st Century Learning Space is Adaptable
Supports multiple learning modes in the same space and facilitates ME & WE Work.
Learning spaces must be adaptable allowing an easy switch between lecture mode, group presentation, and discussions. The layouts must allow for a variety of grouping formats and lessons that take into account students’ varying learning styles. It should include a ME space for reading and independent study and a WE space for collaboration and communication.
Spaces should be repurposed for multiple uses through the day with flexible furniture solutions to seamlessly shift from individual to peer study, presentations, role-play, debate, and assessments in the classroom. It should also support needs like setting up exhibitions or workshops in the cafeteria.
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79% of students indicate they would like to rearrange the furniture – to suit individual needs and group discussions*
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*Godrej Interio Study (Pan India)
The 21st Century Learning Space is Adaptable
Portable, lightweight furniture that is stable enough to be moved around multiple times should be used.
Furniture that supports endless configurations is ideal. These modules must interlock to create compact layouts for efficient space utilisation.
Break rooms should be provided so that students can rest and rejuvenate.
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94% of teachers who can change layout agree they can teach effectively, compared to 40.5% who can teach effectively but can’t change their layout.*
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* Godrej Interio Study (Pan India)
The 21st Century Learning Space is Adaptable
Apart from desks and chairs, the supporting furniture should facilitate the desired learning experience:
storage should be provided to ensure student supplies are within reach.
Moveable whiteboards should be used to maximise collaboration and allow privacy.
The floor should be flat to allow easy manoeuvrability of the furniture in order to effortlessly change layouts.
There should be enough space between modules to ensure comfortable movement and collaboration between students and educators.
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b.
Design
Adaptable Library Spaces
Silent Zone- study alone
Quiet Zone- individual or small group study
Informal Seating –groups or recreational reading
Discussion Zone –group study
An ideal library can also support the various ways of studying. Reading carrels for individual study, lounge seating and separate discussion areas can be created to foster collaboration.
Zones can be separated from each other while allowing for movement and visual connection.
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The 21st Century Learning Space is Inviting
Encourages creativity by transforming a ‘boring, restrictive, or intimidating’ space to one that is ‘inviting, relaxing and invigorating.
We are getting briefs to incorporate learning outside of classrooms even in rural,government schools. We designed multiplication tables as games on the floor...door openings showed angles (30,45 degrees) to create opportunities to learn outside the classroom. It helps inculcate a sense of wonder and curiosity for the children, that learning outside of the four walls of a classroom is a real possibility, Dhriti, Architect *
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* Godrej Interio Study (Pan India)
The 21st Century Learning Space is Inviting
Infuse colour :
Walls, pinboards and whiteboards should be used to display teaching material and artwork. It will help personalise the space and infuse creativity.
Coloured desks and chairs can be used to infuse colour to create lively surroundings and attention-grabbing décor.
Underutilised spaces like wide corridors must be re-designed to create semi-open spaces for collaboration and tutoring. Different moveable partitions and soft seating can be used to achieve this objective.
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The 21st Century Learning Space is Inviting
Incorporate nature to increase connectivity between indoors and outdoors : Natural light must be maximised with large glass windows and semi-open spaces. For interior spaces that don’t open to the outside, the positive effects of natural light can be replicated by incorporating light fixtures with the correct lamp temperature.
Incorporate planters in the space to reduce stress and anxiety, provide visual relief and raise environmental consciousness amongst students.
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Inviting Breakout Areas
High traffic spaces can be re-purposed for interactions between students and educators. They can also provide a respite from the bustle of the classrooms.
Playfulness can be incorporated in primary classes by using shapes and patterns for academic and personal development on walls and floors.
In higher classes, aspirations can be cultivated using artwork and models.
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The 21st Century Learning Space is Smart
Technology helps personalise learning for students, stimulate their curiosity and boost experiences.
The adopted technology should support the combination of physical and digital pedagogy desired by educators to aid conceptual understanding and increase engagement.
Technology must be simple, userfriendly, and scalable for everyday use.
The learning space should be well equipped with power and internet access to support all devices, irrespective of their distance from the wall. This will help promote seamless collaboration while working individually, in teams of 2 or with the entire class.
Provide for walls that doubles up both as a whiteboard and a surface for projection, thereby facilitating collaboration and creative learning
Cable management must be planned to create a clean and organised learning space. It will also reduce risks of tripping, electrocution and fire hazard.
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98.3% of teachers feel technology is beneficial in classrooms*
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* Godrej Interio Study (Pan India)
The 21st Century Learning Space is Smart
The purpose and size of the room determines sightlines and audio requirements. Sightlines should be designed such that users can see the whiteboard/screens.
Eliminate noise and enhance speech consistency for audibility for effective participation.
Adaptive lighting options that support dimmed lights for presentation mode and bright lights for learning mode must be included.
Technology should aid educators as well. Spaces should have a place for projector, laptop, books, wire management, and mobility in the lectern.
Portable media units should be used to support all technological and collaborative requirements in every layout.
Video conferencing solutions should be offered to promote interaction and improve exposure to the outside world.
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Spaces
The 21st Century Learning Space is Comfortable
Keeps pace with the users’ ergonomic needs, growth, and energy levels to reduce discomfort and improve concentration and wellbeing.
Students’ desks and chairs should fit their requirements and provide comfort for the long hours of sitting. Prefer using ergonomic height-adjustable desks that match their growth every year. It will ensure that students focus entirely on learning and are not distracted by discomfort and pain.
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The 21st Century Learning Space is Comfortable
Students spend nearly 6–8 hours of their day sitting, so the furniture should accommodate their natural need to move. Giving students options that allow them to stay active while they are sitting provides for enhanced circulation and concentration throughout the day.
The best posture is the next posture. An active lifestyle should be encouraged by allowing opportunities that enable alternating postures. The use of sit-stand desks, pouffes, bean bags and floor cushions can be incorporated across all learning spaces.
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The 21st Century Learning Space is Safe
Reduces the chance of physical injury in learning spaces and ensures better indoor environments.
The furniture should have rounded edges and corners to protect students from injury.
It should be durable, easy to use and require low maintenance.
In spill and accident-prone areas like laboratories, equipment that assures the safety of users (SEFA* Compliant) must be used.
The furniture should be certified with minimal VOC emissions for a healthier and safer learning environment (e.g., Greenguard Certified).
Furniture tested for BIFMA standards should be adopted to ensure durability and safety.
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5. Design
Educational institutes are entrusted with creating a safe place for students, one that allows them to explore, learn, grow, and succeed- professionally and personally. The current environment is rigid and fixed which does not respond to varied requirements and restricts holistic development.
Change in pedagogy, increasing adoption of technology, focus on students’ learning and wellbeing needs to be given a huge impetus. Spaces that support multiple modes of learning –inside and outside the classrooms is the best way forward. In conclusion, it is essential to create new-age learning spaces that are inviting, accommodative, and encourage holistic development.
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To revolutionise learning, the environment must aid the changes in pedagogy and support multiple modes of learning.
All stakeholders – from the government, society, educators, students to parents should come together to create a fertile ground. Students and in turn society will grow and flourish.
Godrej Interio has extensive knowledge in designing learning spaces and can partner with you to create a learning environment that will enhance student learning and adapt to your needs in the future. Get in touch with Godrej Interio today, Let’s Make Space for Learning, Together.
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About Godrej interio
Godrej Interio (GI) is India’s premium furniture brand in both home and institutional segments with a strong commitment to sustainability and centers of excellence in design, manufacturing and retail.
Led by the largest in-house design team in the country in the furniture category and awarded with 42 India Design Mark Awards till date, GI aims to transform spaces with its thoughtfully designed furniture to create brighter homes and offices with products that have the highest design quotient in aesthetics, functionality and technology. With consistent pursuit of excellence and a special focus on health and ergonomics, GI’s product portfolio comprises a massive range.
Today, we design and manufacture furniture for office spaces, homes, educational institutes, healthcare facilities, laboratories and more. Along with furniture we offer Audio Visual and 360 Degree Turnkey solutions. Each of our product range revolves around comfort and aesthetics while delivering well-designed, fun and functional furniture solutions. Briefly, Godrej Interio transforms dream spaces to life!
GI commitment to the environment has resulted in manufacturing products with lesser environment footprint. Our pioneering efforts include designing less environment burdening products, usage of eco-friendly materials and setting up less polluting and consuming processes, ensuring eco-friendly packaging and transportation and finally the extended responsibility of recycling/reuse of used furniture and scrap, thus ensuring a lifecycle approach to green.
Disclaimer
Currently present in over 650 cities with 250 exclusive showrooms and 800 dealers, GI is one of the largest divisions of Godrej and Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., part of the Godrej Group, one of India's largest engineering and customer product groups.
This paper represents the opinions of the authors and is the product of professional research. This report has been prepared for the exclusive use and benefit of the addressee(s) and solely for the purpose for which it is provided. Unless we provide express prior written consent, no part of this report should be reproduced or distributed. While every attempt is made to ensure that the information contained in this document is true to its best. However, Godrej and Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., its employees, representatives, affiliates or any of its divisions, etc. shall not be responsible for any reliance made on this paper or for any errors / omissions in information obtained from the source while preparing this paper.
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