The future of learning
Can a new building really change how and what students learn? At ZIS, cutting-edge research on how young people develop critical thinking skills has transformed classroom design.
Everyone agrees that ZIS’s new campus is a beauty, with a rooftop garden and airy, design-led spaces flooded with natural light. But look under the surface and it becomes apparent that what’s being constructed here in Zurich’s leafy Adliswil is nothing less than a philosophy of education – and it’s taking shape in glass, wood and sustainable materials.
Designed for learning
David Wood, Middle School Principal and a member of the working group overseeing the project, is clear about the purpose of the new building. “We are creating learning spaces that embody the pedagogy we want to put into practice,” he says.
Indeed, every detail of the new campus space has been designed “to bring to life our definition of learning,” explains David Wood. “That means acquiring competencies, whether spelling, dancing, or using software; understanding concepts that are timeless and transferrable; and developing character.
“Our focus isn’t only on what our students need to know and learn, but on what values and standards they should uphold."
"Our focus isn’t only on what our students need to know and learn, but on what values and standards they should uphold. We want our young people to become – and remain – open-minded, resilient and playful, drawn to discovery and exploration. And as teachers, we need a space in which we can teach on a conceptual level. What’s important to us is how our kids are taught, not just what and where they are taught.”
Leaving behind a nineteenth century model of education
All of which has demanded a meticulous reimagining of the school environment. “Our idea of a school is still informed by an industrial model of children sitting in rows facing forward, every piece of knowledge being poured forth by an adult at the front of the room,” says Director Lisa Lyle. “But that’s not how teaching and learning works any more. Children come to us with varied levels of knowledge. They have different interests and passions, and they progress at different speeds. So, we need flexible spaces that allow learning to happen in lots of different ways.”
Educating the whole child
David Wood points to the new Makerspace as a design that facilitates this holistic learning. It’s a flexible, multipart space equipped with everything from computers, 3D printers and video cameras to traditional tools. “We know students love to design and create and use their imagination – imagination is one of the most under-utilized resources for education. But they’ll also be learning to work together, which can be hard even for adults! And they will discover more about themselves, asking: ‘What is my role in this group? Am I a leader?’ We’re an academically inclusive school that’s extremely diverse across all groups. So, as they develop projects, students will also find themselves asking: “Am I being responsible and honest, collaborative and inclusive?’”
Such self-reflection will help students develop resilience and emotional competencies. And here, too, the new campus design has a role to play. “Student wellbeing is integral, as there’s a perception that the world is becoming more stressful and digital,” says David Wood. “As educators, we want to make sure our students have hope for the future and believe they have opportunities. If they feel their education is something being ‘done to’ them, it creates anxiety, which shuts down learning. So, their psychological safety is important.” Built into the campus design are varied spaces to support this: dedicated quiet spaces, a darker room for mediation and silence, large windows and plentiful connections between the indoors and outdoor green spaces.
“From the moment you step foot in the new campus,” says David Wood, “you understand that ZIS is a place of learning, caring and being challenged. The new buildings embody our identity, mission and values – all in beautiful architecture.”
Connected – and flexible classrooms
That most basic unit of any school design, the classroom, has been given endless potential for reconfiguration. Digital smartboards in every room can be connected to by students and teachers, so learning can be shared. Desks and chairs can be easily rearranged in groups, or circles, or removed altogether, while teaching may flow in and out of several rooms – or even relocate outdoors. “Classroom spaces are more permeable,” says Lisa Lyle, “and there are more liminal spaces in close proximity to the classroom for different kinds of learning.
Finally, in bringing together the Middle and Upper School in a single campus – one in which many facilities are shared, although certain spaces are still divided by school “because the needs of an 11-year-old differ greatly from those of a 17-year-old” – students are empowered to learn from other students, teachers from other teachers, and students and teachers from each other. The active Upper School service program will extend its reach to younger children, helping deepen their perspectives. “How do you go beyond a bake sale?” asks David Wood. “How do you raise not just money, but awareness?”
A learning culture – that includes educators
Meanwhile teachers will be exposed to the different pedagogical styles of their peers. “For an Upper School teacher to experience the freedom of a Middle School teacher is a vibrant, joyous thing,” David Wood says. “For a Middle School teacher to see the rigors of Upper School, helping students work under pressure as they come to their exams, helps builds empathy. We need good psychological health for all, and that doesn’t come about by accident. It needs to be thought through and designed in.
“From the moment you step foot in the new campus,” says David Wood, “you understand that ZIS is a place of learning, caring and being challenged. The new buildings embody our identity, mission and values – all in beautiful architecture.”