Let’s say that you are ten years old, again. What’s your favorite thing to do beside eating chocolate ice-cream and french fries? Probably playing with your friends. And what’s the thing that you like the least? Let me guess, there might be a tie here, between doing homework and having to sit down in class for hours, while there’s a beautiful sunny day outside.
A new school opened in Stockolm last August and… surprise! no straight rows of desks and no chairs, just a huge open space with designer’s couch. The school is operated by Vittra, which manages 30 schools in Sweden. According to Jannie Jeppesen, the school principal, the design is intended to stimulate “children’s curiosity and creativity” and it should offer them opportunities for both curiosity and independent time. As a matter of fact while there’s enough space for everybody to study independently, the school also has specific areas where children can work together, such as “the village”, a tiny house for group work .
The space organization is a priority for Vittra, since this system does not follow traditional grades, but students are taught in classes according to their level. For this reason maximizing diverse teaching and learning situations is a priority.
