Schools of the Future, Part 2: The Physical Space

Report Overview

Across the U.S., school districts are embracing the concept of future-ready schools, or schools that are rooted in the 21st Century Learning Framework. In such schools, teachers’ and students’ roles are reversed—students take a greater role in directing their own progress through a unique learning path, while teachers become guides and mentors. This report, Schools of the Future, examines the characteristics of future-ready schools, gleaned through the experiences of those who have implemented key components, and provides a look at where the U.S. is today in transforming the current education system into the schools of the future.

Schools of the Future, Part 2: The Physical Space looks at the interaction of learning and the physical environment and the role that changing the learning environment can have in how teachers teach and children learn. Learning environments are changing both through new construction and redesign of existing spaces.

How to Use This Report

This report can stand on its own or serve as a companion to Schools of the Future, Part 1: Curriculum and Content, which focuses on the changing curriculum and content needs of future-ready schools, the changing roles of teachers and learners and how that changes the demand for instructional materials.