The personalization of learning and its universalization through the introduction of technologies is an issue that concerns all countries in the European Union; how to make the physical classroom more attractive , more useful, more interactive and not just focused on tables behind each other, in rows, and the teacher in front, talking.
Thus, the National Institute of Educational Technologies and Teacher Training (INTEF), as a unit of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (MECD) and on its behalf, has developed the " Classroom of the Future " project.
This is a space that was born from the European initiative Future Classroom Lab (FCL) launched by European Schoolnet in Brussels based on the results of the research and development project carried out by iTEC .
What is the Classroom of the Future?
The Classroom of the Future is a space divided into several learning areas and equipped with a variety of technologies, which aims to bring about a methodological change to promote and stimulate teaching and learning processes in Spanish classrooms.
Following the model of organisation in zones of the FCL project developed in Brussels, which divides the space into six zones (research, interact, exchange, develop, create and present), the Classroom of the Future of Spain is divided into four different zones, since in two of these zones functionalities have been combined.
Learning Zones of the Classroom of the Future
The aim is for teachers to see in this proposal a reference model to promote methodological changes in daily teaching practice through the creation and organisation of flexible spaces in educational centres that promote the use of active pedagogies. Each individual classroom must then respond to the needs of the students who are going to use it and must adapt to the work that is going to be developed.
Let's give some examples of the Classroom of the Future
A well-designed classroom stimulates students' academic performance and to do so, the natural aspect, the individual aspect and the stimulating aspect must be worked on.
The Clever Classroom Report highlights that differences in air quality, colour and light can increase student progress.
For example, teachers can change the layout of the classroom so that students are not facing one direction for the entire class, or vary display options and wall colors.
Discussions about adapting learning spaces must increasingly take into account issues relating to the changing role of schoolchildren, who now have access to digital devices inside and outside the classroom, and who can access resources and create innovative, professional, and shareable productions.
That is, in the Classroom of the Future, students can design a multimedia presentation or video that can be easily edited and does not necessarily have to be in a single place.
Thus, the form of evaluation could also be changed and summative evaluation could be left behind.
Changing the layout of the classroom and providing access lawyer email list to technology can be a starting point for how teachers respond to the individual teaching needs of each student.
Research has shown the following benefits of the Classroom of the Future:
Benefits for teachers:
Teamwork allows them to address a specific area for the overall development of the center.
It is easier to get to know each student as there is more opportunity to discuss ideas when students are organized into groups.
Teachers can encourage students to move and participate in different class tasks.
Teachers with access to technology can ask their students to complete a specific task and thus collect instant data and information to later help them in a more specific way.
Benefits for students:
Students can have greater access to technology throughout the day rather than having technology in one room and having access to it for limited periods of time.
They may have more opportunities to collaborate and discuss ideas in class.
They can take an active role in their own learning.
They can make decisions about the order of activities and this helps them to be more autonomous.
Students like the new learning spaces that the Classroom of the Future generates and talk more about what they have done during the day at school .