The classroom is not the only place where important lessons are taught. Today’s students require a variety of environments where learning can occur through structured , collaborative and informal activities. These spaces can be distributed throughout the campus, from casual outdoor settings to study areas within residence halls. For inspiration in designing your campus, we offer the following examples:
At DePauw University, Adirondack chairs and blackboards are arranged on campus quads to create outdoor classrooms during warmer months.
Within a new residence hall at Emory University, built-in seating provides a place for casual exchanges of ideas between students.
Students at Salisbury University learn about digital arts in the Teacher Education and Technology Center. A gallery and a café provide settings for discussions about electronic displays.
The University of Minnesota’s Wall of Discovery teaches students about problem solving. Reproductions of drawings, letters and other items impart lessons related to faculty and alumni inventions.
The College of Charleston supports environmental science research and instruction on an 880-acre riverfront campus. Signage at key vistas allows visitors to learn about natural habitats.
Students at Emory University are engaged in learning within their residential community. A ground-floor classroom in one of the newest freshman halls reduces the campus commute.
A seating area near the entrance to Rutgers University’s law school provides a place for impromptu group study sessions and collaborative learning.
A freshman residence hall at Emory University includes a demonstration kitchen to teach students about healthy nutrition and practical cooking skills in an interactive way.
Tables and chairs line the windows of Rutgers University’s law school to provide well illuminated spaces for individual study and group learning.
On the second floor of Salisbury University’s Teacher Education and Technology Center, benches set into a colonnade allow for individual study and small group discussions.
At Swarthmore College, the Scott Amphitheater is a treasured campus forum for classes, celebrations, performances and commencements.
Framed by stained glass, the student lounge at Rutgers University’s law school is used for studying, socializing and collaborative learning.
Within the University of Virginia’s law school, built-in seating provides a place for casual exchanges of ideas between students.
