Circle of Learning? Modular Eco-Classrooms for the Future

Eco-Classrooms – Circle of learning is more than a figure of speech

• learning :     noun     1.the acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or being taught.

• teacher :    noun         plural noun: teachers

1. 1.a person who teaches, especially in a school.

It’s no secret that the built environment is continuously shaping your thoughts, your mood, your productivity and your health.  God only knows what it’s doing on a metaphysical level!  Environmental Psychologists and Interior Designers certainly share the same passion;  the impact of spaces which nurture and support their human inhabitants.  I believe the two professions are more similar than most people would care to recognise.

So let me ask you this; which of the numerous built environments that we utilise on a regular basis could possibly be more important than those which support our children whilst they learn?

There have been countless studies of optimum office environments and eco-buildings for productivity but surely the humble classroom has to be one of primary importance, let there be no debate about this where we’re concerned! We firmly believe that a round eco-classroom offers a perfect environment for learning!

Anyone who’s familiar with the works of Rudolf Steiner (an Austrian philosopher, educationalist, social reformer, and architect) would be acutely aware of his unusual architectural style (no right angles if you please, these are CREATIVE spaces!) and the legacy he left in education. His education philosophy made him a prominent figure and Waldorf Schools are still respected by many.

Such visionaries will grace our planet from time to time and upset the balance of what we ‘think we know’ and I absolutely  yearn for another Steiner to really shake things up at this point in our evolutionary development.   It is about time that architects and designers stand firm to their values and design exclusively around the intended use of the building, to enhance the experience of those who will be spending time in it. This is especially significant for Educational Buildings within schools, nurseries or universities.

One school actively thinking in ‘circles’ purely to enhance it’s capacity as a learning environment is showcased in a very short video clip on the BBC Learning Zone website  which I’d urge any architecture fanatic to watch!

So what’s the secret to creating an inclusive, productive and enhanced eco-classroom learning environment? To me, it’s an absolute no-brainer that the design process includes figuring out what happens in the space and scouring the internet and talking to teachers and psychologists to gleam information on any research which has been carried out on the effect of learning environments and seating patterns.

Some research which has led us to believe that a circle is the ideal configuration for interaction is echoed in the report which highlights two studies which compared rows to a circular seating arrangements carried out in 2000.

In a nutshell, Marx, Furher and Hartig “investigated the relationship between seating arrangements and the question-asking patterns of ten year olds. They found that students asked their teacher significantly more questions when they were seated in a semi-circle than in rows. 

As one of those who disliked school immensely, I believe that learning can not only be enhanced by the environment and teaching methods but also by promoting friendships and shared experience.   Below, I have extracted part of an article which jumped out at me recently which echoes my thoughts on forging bonds and facilitating learning.

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“Teachers are using a traditional technique to help students communicate with one another as a way to build bonds that will foster learning and help them stay in school.”

“It’s story time at Amelia Earhart Continuation School, a place where high school students who have ditched class, flunked out or otherwise fallen behind in their academic credits come to catch up.  

On this day, the students in Nancy Stringer’s English class sit in a circle. As they pass around a “talking piece”, they share stories of elementary and middle school.    It may seem simple, but sharing stories in this way — a practice known as “council” — has made a huge difference in their lives, building strong bonds that have helped them stay in school.   Cultures worldwide have long used speaking and listening circles — most notably, Native Americans. But now a modernized form, developed by the nonprofit Ojai Foundation, has spread to 12,000 students via 600 trained teachers in more than 60 schools, many of them in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Joe Provisor, who helped launch the program in the district in 2006, said research shows that strong school relationships are critical for a student’s success.   “This is bringing humanity back to the schools,” said Provisor, a teacher advisor with the district’s office of curriculum,

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For those of us who might have been bullied, excluded or misguided at school; our experience and our education may have been improved remarkably if our school had adopted an approach similar to the one used by Amelia Earheart.  Perhaps if this type of inclusive and supported open-interaction were promoted at all levels of education there would be no need for a ‘continuation school’ and just think about what this might do to reflect crime rates and youth offending statistics in the UK?

With a background in Primary School Education, the team at Rotunda Living are enormously excited about the impact an Eco-Classroom Rotunda could make as a unique eco-classroom environment and we’re keen to see how the circular environment can improve the effectiveness of your school or nursery.  Let’s work together to promote learning and care for our children.

We’re here when you need us!