Architectural Spaces Promoting Active Learning and Progressive Educational Delivery for the Primary School Student

Abstract

Education in the United States is failing the next generation. Students today advance through their education without the skills or passion for learning they will need to be marketable in their careers. And, our current educational infrastructure cannot keep up with constant technological and societal changes. Through experiential learning, young students are offered the opportunity to develop core subject understanding but also their ability to communicate, to be creative problem solvers, and to be adaptable in a variety of situations. Through empirical research and case studies, the topic of experiential learning, interpersonal skills, and the architectural spaces necessary for these activities to occur is examined. Architectural spaces that support innovative learning processes are not static. They must be an inherent flexibility in the space to encourage energetic learning. The goals are to develop spaces that support a paradigm shift in technology, problem solving on a global scale, experiential processes, lifelong learning, and the ability of the built environment to evolve with each decade of life.