Traveling Teacher: Flex Spaces

How are we being more flexible with our learning spaces?  How do they reflect our learner's needs and not our own as the teacher?  

This delicate balance is always at the forefront of my mind as I navigate new spaces each week.  As a full-time trainer, I am always perplexed by shared spaces and how I will make them intimate for my participants.  I use everything from windows, doors, sides of cabinets, vending machines, etc.   Usually, I am in cavernous spaces, such as libraries and cafeterias, because they are large enough for a whole group.  

At FLIBS last year, I was gifted an entire villa for my workshop with a rooftop terrace overlooking a pool.  For some, this might have been a distraction.  Instead, I looked at it as a golden opportunity to connect with the outdoors in break out rooms.  My participants, especially the ones from Colorado, really appreciated the opportunity to work in mixed spaces.  

How are you turning your learning spaces from lemons to lemonade?  We know that most classrooms are smaller than they should be, so how do we reframe them to work for our learners?  

One possible way is to ask our learners how to redesign our space, so it's flexible and more aligned to their learning preferences.  An obstacle quickly turns into a win-win for everybody!