© Universität Bielefeld Bielefeld University
Throughout the history of school construction, the classroom in German schools has essentially remained the same – with an area of 60 to 70 square metres, frontal orientation facing a blackboard and relatively rigid furnishings including a teacher’s desk and student desks.
Yet pedagogical approaches at schools, and with them their spatial requirements, have changed drastically in recent years. Students are no longer expected to learn at the same pace; focus is now placed on the child’s personal development. Frontal instruction no longer dominates the school day but rather independent learning with peer support and group projects. Classroom design seldom differentiates among these various learning situations, not to speak of topics such as inclusion, one-to-one support and digital media.
Another challenge is the change from half-day to full-day schools or schools with afternoon care. Recreation, quiet time and meals are now integrated into daily school life and dedicated space is needed for this – for both students and teachers. The school has gone from being a site of pure learning to a lively place hosting a wide range of activities. (Frank Hausmann)
Yet pedagogical approaches at schools, and with them their spatial requirements, have changed drastically in recent years. Students are no longer expected to learn at the same pace; focus is now placed on the child’s personal development. Frontal instruction no longer dominates the school day but rather independent learning with peer support and group projects. Classroom design seldom differentiates among these various learning situations, not to speak of topics such as inclusion, one-to-one support and digital media.
Another challenge is the change from half-day to full-day schools or schools with afternoon care. Recreation, quiet time and meals are now integrated into daily school life and dedicated space is needed for this – for both students and teachers. The school has gone from being a site of pure learning to a lively place hosting a wide range of activities. (Frank Hausmann)