Flexible classrooms give students a choice in what kind of learning space works best for them, and help them to work collaboratively, communicate, and engage in critical thinking.

Since implementing flexible classrooms, some Public Schools have noticed that:

· Their students' grades have improved.

· Their students seem happier and more engaged.

· Their students are participating more and having more invigorating conversations.

Design a Collaborative Learning Space

"We’re really looking at how we support kids working collaboratively," Fisher says. "And we can't do it if we're isolated in rows and every kid is an island."

She believes that classrooms work well with these design elements:

· They have at least three kinds of classroom seating.

· They use flexible bookshelves.

· Instead of individual workspaces, they use large round or rectangular tables, or put four desks together to form a more collaborative space.

"You'll see flexible bookshelves that can be moved so that the room can be totally opened up -- or little nooks and crannies can be created -- so that everybody can see everybody, and we can participate as a community," Fisher says.