Designing Healthy Learning Spaces

As more school leaders consider the necessary changes for learning environments in the time of a pandemic, it is important that they do so with an understanding that along with purchasing solutions, they need to create time for growing the capacity of the professionals in the building around holistically healthy learning spaces for students. New furniture, supplies, and equipment can feel like a total solution, but the long-term positive impact of any solution only materializes when all of the adults in the building understand the importance of intentional space design on student health, well-being, and academic growth.

Taking time as a leader to grow awareness about the power of design is essential to the overall health of the building. This process can begin by allowing staff to: visit model classrooms (physically or virtually), discuss images of other healthy learning spaces, and learn about the basic concepts of design as they relate to excellent schools. Healthy schools are only possible when we can shift the inertia and establish momentum for forward thinking solutions. Shifts in inertia can begin by celebrating small successes, promoting more conversations about design, and leading by example. Momentum changes can come from saying yes to a lot of early ideas and learning from solution iteration. It takes time and a process to get folks to let go of old ways and old things, but it is essential for leaders is to limit misconceptions, dispel rumors, and avoid decisions based on tradition, so that healthy spaces can emerge.

Leaders can rarely orchestrate all of the changes in the system. If a leader just has a plan and executes the plan, there is rarely space and time for excellent ideas to bubble to surface. So have a plan that has space to expand and contract. Idea rich change is a catalyst for sustainable change. Healthy school design will require an acknowledgement that what kids learn and how they learn it need to be on par with where they are learning as well.