Learning never stops with Steelcase Learning

In collaboration with Steelcase

Prior to the pandemic, education was already undergoing a transformation, as 21st-century learning styles came into focus for educators and students. The unforeseeable impact of Covid-19 merely accelerated trends in the design of education settings that were already in motion. Steelcase Learning, a subsidiary of global workplace furniture company Steelcase, conducted in-depth research, developing insights into the impact of the pandemic on education, and how it ultimately would drive change. They looked into the value of educational outcomes of hybrid and blended learning models, as well as how a fresh approach to learning settings could play a role in enhancing the teaching and learning experience.

“Before Covid, schools and universities only talked about new approaches to designing education spaces, but actual changes were slow to come. Now, however, many educational institutions are taking action to transform their spaces with hybrid learning in mind,” says Ambroise d’Hauteville (pictured), Director of Learning at Steelcase Asia Pacific. “The pandemic has become a catalyst of change towards creating learning experiences that are richer and safer, whilst also supporting these recent pedagogical shifts.”

In Hong Kong, particularly in international schools, learning spaces are changing, starting with the transformation of libraries into collaborative zones.

Classrooms in the city traditionally consisted of one teacher positioned in front of around 30 students, each at his or her own desk. Now, however, it is common to see more personalisation in these spaces, where desks can be rearranged to suit more fluid activities throughout the day, and chairs are no longer just chairs – they can be adjusted to support different movements and postures. Whiteboards, too, are more flexible now and can be manoeuvred to follow the movement of smaller groups.

In fact, a host of new spaces have emerged in recent years, including the ‘makerspace’ and DT (Design Thinking) zones. In-between spaces such as corridors and cafeterias have also been transformed into places where students can learn.

Even more recently, schools have begun to look into how physical space and technology can work together.

“With the onset of Covid-19, schools are embracing software solutions too, and how they can be used to improve the learning experience,” says Ambroise. “They are partnering with IT and solution providers to offer a greater experience online, for example, via Zoom.”

Looking forward, Steelcase Learning will continue to reinvent learning spaces and new approaches for delivering quality education, inspiring people to become engaged, active learners within and beyond the classroom.

Four macro shifts institutions need to address

After interviewing educators and students, and conducting multiple studies in 10 countries to better understand the impact the pandemic has had on educators and students, researchers at Steelcase Learning uncovered four macro shifts that will help shape the design of learning environments: Designing safer schools to create cleaner environments to mitigate disease spread; designing for effectiveness to balance individual and group needs in one place; designing to inspire, to create spaces that are meaningful and inspirational; and designing for flexibility.

Designing a better learning experience

A better learning experience starts with better learning environments, Steelcase designers have identified a new set of design principles to consider.