The "Classroom" redefined??

The classroom has become a space synonymous in the American psyche with a traditional multi use high school classroom. The physical space is defined as a simple box, four walls, a ceiling and a floor. In it we find 20-40 places to sit and work, a blackboard or white board, a few windows and a few posters on the wall. Hollywood has portrayed it accurately in countless movies and TV shoes. Almost everyone in our country has spent considerable time in one of these vanilla boxes designed around function and flexibility.

But ultimately what is a classroom? Is its definition as simple as the physical space that it occupies? What makes a classroom different from a workshop, a restaurant or a store? In each of those places they may have four walls, a ceiling and a floor. They may have furniture for 20-40 people to gather. There may even be whiteboards, windows and posters. In each case the physical definition is not enough to separate the classroom from other types of spaces.

If we examine the dictionary we will find a simple definition for the classroom. It is 'a place where classes meet'. Even if we take the definition a step further to examine the word class the definition remains quite simple. A 'class' is defined as 'a body of students meeting regularly to study the same subject'. Therefore according to our friends at Webster a classroom is 'the place where a body of students meet regularly to study the same subject'.

Not so fast Webster, I would argue there is more to a classroom than that.

Instead I would expect most of us would define a classroom by the actions that take place within the space; teaching, studying and learning. Classrooms are expected to be spaces where individuals receive information regarding a course of study, practice that information and process or synthesize it into personal knowledge. Therefore perhaps we can redefine the classroom as 'the physical space where individuals can receive knowledge'. If we use that definition suddenly the image of the simple box fades. Individuals gain knowledge in a variety of places, some passively, some actively. We might gain knowledge in our home reading a book, or outdoors examining wildlife. We could gain knowledge in a church or a hospital, so what makes the classroom different?

Perhaps my definition is to broad. Certainly my living room is not a classroom, but I can gain knowledge there. What is missing? Quite simply, community. Schools and classrooms are not built around an individual, but a community of learning. They are intended as universal places where many people may gather to gain much of the same or similar knowledge. Revisiting Webster we note that his definition states 'a body of students' which separates the community from the individual. Lets try this again. Perhaps the classroom should be defined as 'the physical space where a community of people can receive shared knowledge'.

Ironically today most classrooms are only designed around one part of the process of gaining knowledge; teaching. The goal for many teachers is the effective delivery of complex information and many educational designers see that as the primary function of any classroom space. How best can I design a classroom to assist in delivering complex information? That approach has given our society some of the best audio visual technology, functional furniture and teacher focused spaces. For decades classrooms have been designed to make the most important person in the room the teacher and the most important action the delivery of information.

Today we receive information in many more ways than ever before. Technology has made it possible to see and hear information anyplace anytime relevant or not. Even the most interesting modern classrooms pale in the vibrancy of television, video games and the all reaching Internet. Students around the globe have new access to amazing lessons taught by incredible teachers through cable television, videos, websites and emerging new media. So if we are finding new and better ways to deliver information outside of the classroom, what is its true purpose?

Ultimately the classroom, must be designed for the learner or it will become obsolete. Information can be delivered in a variety of ways and a variety of places, but to be used effectively it must be studied and synthesized. The synthesis of information into a body of knowledge is not a simple process. It often involves study from many points of view. That is where community becomes so critical. Classrooms are the cauldrons where small communities can examine complex subjects together providing many individual points of view that inform the community as a whole. Classrooms must become places focused on the student and their role in a learning community to maintain and improve their relevance.

Some will argue that the learning community is defined by the teacher and students who create that community. I would agree that the sum of the individuals may make the community, but the place where they define themselves is the classroom.