AI is here, and it’s here to stay, but adapting to the latest technological developments has been a cornerstone of the education industry for decades. In the last two decades alone, teachers have shifted from writing lessons on a blackboard to a smartboard and from teaching keyboarding in designated computer labs to handing out personal laptops to students in class.
Classrooms have continuously evolved to embrace new tools to meet the needs of students and educators. AI is just the latest development in this evolution, for middle and high schools in particular, and it’s vital that we thoughtfully consider how classrooms can adjust to this shift.
A new report from the Center for Democracy and Technology found that 85% of teachers and 86% of students use AI in some capacity in the classroom. In the same report, a concerning 50% of students responded that using AI in class makes them feel less connected to their teachers.
Parents and teachers also voiced concerns about how the use of AI could impact students’ relationships with their peers.
This early indicator shows the importance of paying attention to how students’ experiences in the classroom have started to adapt to incorporate AI. As students feel this growing distance from their teachers and peers, we must plan now for how the physical space of the classroom itself can adapt to emerging technologies—from AI to future technology we cannot begin to predict—in a way that keeps students engaged in their education.
Spaces for engagement
The key is flexibility. When a learning space is easily reconfigurable, it can accommodate both individual learning and group interaction.
As AI, along with other emerging technologies, becomes more prevalent in education, students will need the space to use it responsibly. This includes both engaging with technology and also working with their teachers and peers to discuss their findings with AI and understand the implications of these results.
Mobile, durable furniture creates dynamic classrooms that ensure that the human connection isn’t lost. When teachers can quickly and easily reconfigure their classrooms, they can create spaces for independent study, partner work, Socratic circles and more, giving students individual and collaborative opportunities to use technology to engage in real-world applications and problem-solving.
The need to create spaces for engagement between students and teachers extends beyond the classroom and is even more paramount with students reporting higher levels of disconnection with the increased use of AI.
Research shows that when students feel more connected to their school—including having positive perceptions of school support and strong relationships with adults at the school—they have higher attendance, stronger academic performance, and fewer behavioral issues.
These connections are traditionally centered in the classroom, but with research showing that over 40% of students turn to AI chatbots for mental health support and companionship, we need to view the entire school as a space to foster meaningful human connections for students with their peers and teachers.
Comfortable breakout spaces in the hallways, inviting cafeterias, and dynamic library and media centers can all be additional environments for students to engage with each other and their teachers in ways that support their academic success.
Committed to connections
Preparing our schools for the age of AI is also about preparing students for their future professions. Career training is a major priority in education and many of today’s students will have careers that rely on their ability to use AI and other emerging technologies.
When building career and technical education classrooms, schools should consider how these spaces will support students in learning these skills.
I recently worked with a school to design a cybersecurity-focused career technical classroom. What mattered most in the design was the easy adaptability of the classroom to the rapidly changing field of cybersecurity, including both the instruction and technology use it will require.
We accomplished this by creating a space where educators can easily reconfigure based on their instructional needs while still supporting students in exploring new technologies and their applications. Classrooms that are designed to accommodate the impacts of AI must be able to shift quickly and constantly, much like the technology itself.
The future of technology is rapidly evolving, so now is the time to prepare our classrooms and learning environments. Ensuring students remain engaged with their teachers and peers in the physical spaces of their schools, even as they rely more on AI and digital technologies, is an essential place to start.
Above all else, our commitment must remain to support students’ learning and connections, even as the tools of education continue to change.
