In my last article, we talked about ‘One Simple Mantra’ — See + Hear + Do = Remember. These are the components of active learning, and the design of spaces where we expect learning to occur needs to optimize sightlines, acoustics and the ability to work in groups within the space. In this post, let’s look at how the largest learning spaces should work and how the "See + Hear + Do = Remember" concept can be applied.
In large lecture halls and auditoria, it is crucial to understand from the beginning how active the learning will be, and what combinations of activity may occur. It is fairly common at the start of a project for institutions to request extensive adaptability and flexibility. For example, they may want room for five hundred seats that can be subdivided into several smaller rooms, with all movable furniture so it can be cleared out and used for a completely different type of activity (e.g., dining). Although some designers may suggest that this can be easily done, the reality is that it may not be a plausible or financially responsible solution.