Designing Learning Places
EDU T428M
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
Learning unfolds within and across places, whether within school classrooms, across small outdoor tables, in virtual chat rooms, or on quiet library couches. Such places contain various locations, spaces and objects that mediates meaning-making, such as classrooms, furniture to focus and tools to assist thinking and expression. Other elements, such as surfaces, lighting, temperature, colors and acoustics can combine to create a sense of safety and calm. Or they can mix in jarring and disruptive ways that undercut learning. How can places be better designed with learning in mind? This course explores the intersection of contemporary theories of learning, pedagogy and spatial design. Students will explore research studies, cases, and Boston-area examples of places with architectural affordances for learning, such as co-constructing knowledge, encountering different perspectives, practicing skills, and getting feedback. While physical environments will be the primary focus, the course will allow opportunities for students to explore and apply lessons from and to digital and hybrid learning spaces. The course aims to provide students with frameworks for conceptualizing, processes for designing, and tools to facilitate and assess effective learning environments.
Class Notes
Course will break from 12:00-1:00pm for lunch. Please note that students may add, drop, or change the grading basis for J-Term courses in My.Harvard until January 5th. Beginning January 6th, students who wish to drop a J-Term course and have the DRP removed from their transcript must email registrar@gse.harvard.edu. This request must be submitted before 8:00am on 1/13/2026.
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
