Dezyncycle Seeks to Evolve the Modern Day Classroom with Active Learning Spaces

Technology is constantly evolving and advancing. As such the team at Dezyncycle are exploring ways to improve teaching methods and methodologies (how we teach) by posing the question, “why are we using school buildings and classrooms that were designed 30, 40, 50 years ago?“.

This query makes apparent the glaring reality that the classrooms of today are not evolving with time or technology. This gap is what the dezyncycle team seeks to fill. In the words of Prakash Nair, a futurist and Innovative School Architect, “Yesterday’s classroom cannot build the students of tomorrow.”

Problems with the Current Learning Spaces

The majority of classrooms in Nigeria today were built for traditional, “stand-and-deliver, sit-and-listen” pedagogies in passive learning settings. As such, most classrooms in Nigeria do not promote student centered learning largely due to the out dated teaching models & methods (teacher centered learning). This is further compounded by the inflexible layouts of learning spaces and the furniture with limited mobility which hampers interaction among students, instructors and content. To put it plainly, the environment is the barrier.

Observation:

Over 90% of student academic lives are spent in learning spaces, the current state of these spaces don’t help to improve students learning experience, engagement and participation.

Design aim:

How might we improve the quality of learning experience, engagement and academic performance of students in schools? This was the springboard upon which our solutions were created.

Solutions

After a process of collaborative brainstorming and research, Dezyncycle came up with a solution called, “Active Learning Space”. Active learning space is an innovative education solution that helps enhance the learning experience of students as well as improve their academic performance, by facilitating pedagogy, optimizing spaces and integrating technology.

The Design Prototypes

Basic / Junior Secondary Classroom

SCENARIOS

  • Lecture | Test Mode
  • Project Mode
  • Team Mode
  • Discussion Mode

SPATIAL FEATURES

  • Teacher lectern.
  • Steelcase verb tables
  • SmithSystem chairs
  • Teacher lectern.
  • Surface Finishes,
  • Window blinds.

TECHNOLOGY FEATURES

  • Mobile interactive screens.
  • Public address sound systems.
  • Projector and screen.
  • Internet networking.

ALS Library

Offers learners multiple scenarios that cater for varying study styles in a highly conducive environment to engage with information and with one another.

FUNCTIONALITY

  • Personal reading
  • Collaborative reading
  • Informal reading
  • Online learning

SPATIAL FEATURES

  • Semi bookshelves
  • Wall shelves
  • Steelcase Node chairs
  • Collaborative Sofa.
  • Interchange Carrels.
  • Surface Finishes.
  • Window blinds.
  • Librarian desk.

TECHNOLOGY FEATURES

  • Portable devices  
  • Internet networking.
  • Projector and screen.

Secondary Secondary Node

SCENARIOS

  • Lecture | Test Mode
  • Project Mode
  • Team Mode
  • Discussion Mode

SPATIAL FEATURES

  • Teacher lectern.
  • SmithSystem UXL tables
  • SmithSystem chairs
  • Teacher lectern.
  • Surface Finishes,
  • Window blinds.

TECHNOLOGY FEATURES

  • Mobile interactive screens.
  • Public address sound systems.
  • Projector and screen.
  • Internet networking

Tertiary Node

SCENARIOS

  • Lecture | Test Mode
  • Project Mode
  • Team Mode
  • Discussion Mode

SPATIAL FEATURES

  • Teacher lectern.
  • Steelcase Node chair.
  • Teacher lectern.
  • Surface Finishes.
  • Window blinds.

TECHNOLOGY FEATURES

  • Mobile interactive screens.
  • Public address sound systems.
  • Projector and screen.
  • Internet networking.

About Dezyncycle

Dezyncycle is a strategy led multi-disciplinary design firm that uses research and innovation to solve human centered problems for people, communities and organizations.

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