When discussing educational technology with instructors, it is useful to begin by asking how they define ed tech. In most cases, they reference the hardware and software they use or plan to use in the classroom. But what about the physical space itself? Classrooms shape instruction, and can even inhibit learning, depending on their design and configuration. Research on learning spaces has consistently demonstrated this impact. Yet many instructors treat the classroom as merely a backdrop to whatever teaching and learning occur: “This is the space where I need to teach, and I have no other options.” But what if we consider the classroom as more than just a setting? Viewing it as an essential component of the learning process, an apparatus that supports or constrains pedagogy, can help reconceptualize teaching in meaningful ways.
