A STEEP LEARNING CURVE
Providing spaces that promote collaborative learning where students can teach one another is key.
Designing for themillennial generation Gensler’sMark Thaler andMaddy Burke-Vigeland explainwhy we need to rethink the one-size-fits-allmodel for college classrooms
Howwell higher education facilities fulfill their requirements is increasingly under scrutiny as University fees continue to soar. If the buildings inwhich students are taught are to deliver in this performance driven culture, theywill need to adapt to the changes and challenges ofmodern times.
I
n a bid to aid key thinkers in the area of higher education design, Gensler has been
researching how to create spaces that enhance the learning experience. In late 2010 and early 2011, Gensler hosted seven round table discussions across the US
and in London with educators, students and administrators. While research done by others had well documented the emerging learning styles of the millennial generation and the need for higher education to adapt, an integrated approach considering the perspectives of all three groups was absent from the dialogue. The goal of this research was to gather evidence to contribute to informed design solutions addressing the changes and challenges facing higher education today. The results, published in the
report: ’NoMore Teachers, No More Books?’ confirmed that higher education is changing.
Ever-evolving technologies, escalating costs, and increased student diversity are converging on college campuses and changing students’ expectations for what the college experience should look and feel like. Students are imploring
universities to modify pedagogy so that classes focus on collaborative learning and one- on-one interaction. As a result, administrators and educators are rethinking the one-size-fits- all model for college classrooms and evaluating what types of spaces effectively support collaboration and help students and faculty engage in transformational learning.
VIEWING EDUCATORS AS FACILITATORS The research showed that students view the classroom as a space where teachers facilitate learning and see every person as an educator. They’re not interested in sitting through long lectures. Online video and readily available podcasts allow students to access information from the comfort of their dorm rooms or apartments.When they come to class, they want to step into an environment where hands-on collaborative learning takes place in small groups. Our roundtables revealed that
many educators and administrators remain devoted to
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