Ready to start thinking differently about your classroom? Try taking the first step by not calling it a classroom. Names matter and “classroom” may be an easy win to overcome. Think studio, incubator, collective, den, workshop, study, etc. Or be bolder and give the space a different name all together like Marabilla. The name of the space is often the first entry point into the learning experience and nothing is more beige than “Classroom B205”.
This isn’t unique to Google office spaces. This shift in rethinking the naming of spaces is occurring throughout the corporate world and can be an indicator of the culture of a company.
With that in mind, what do our learning space names say about the culture of our schools? Are they likely to resemble a filing system or reflect the culture and aspirations of the community? Most schools aspire to immerse ask their students in creative learning experiences which attempt to solve real-world problems. That is a challenging and intimidating feat but imagine showing up to the “Herschel Lab” to explore the possibilities. That name change alone pivots the threshold experience away from monotony towards wonder and curiosity.