It’s easy to equate teaching with telling – after all, we have content to cover, knowledge to share, and expertise to convey. We spend precious hours crafting detailed presentations and reading through dense slides, while students passively absorb information. But if we measure our teaching primarily by how much information we deliver, we risk missing what matters most: designing learning spaces for deeper student thinking, where students can actively engage with ideas and develop their understanding.
While telling has its place, our most valuable contribution might not be in perfecting our presentations and learning materials, but in crafting environments that encourage deep thinking and active engagement.
In other words, we should think like designers rather than someone who delivers content.
The aim of teaching is simple: it is to make student learning possible.
Paul Ramsden (1991). Learning to teach in higher education.
Just as architects create spaces that influence how people move and interact, we can design learning environments that shape how students engage with ideas. This isn’t about physical spaces (though they matter); it’s about creating intellectual and psychological spaces that transform passive listening into active thinking.
Designing effective learning spaces
- Create entry points: Start each topic with questions or problems that invite different approaches to engagement. This gives learners multiple pathways into complex ideas.
- Build reflection zones: Include deliberate pauses in your teaching materials. These aren’t breaks – they’re designated spaces for processing and integration.
- Design for dialogue: Structure activities where students must engage with ideas through discussion and debate. Simple pair-shares or small group discussions can transform passive listening into active thinking.
- Welcome uncertainty: Create safe spaces for students to express confusion and work through difficulties. Some of the most valuable learning happens in these moments of productive struggle.
- Make thinking visible: Help students see their thinking process by modelling how experts approach problems and make decisions in your field.
By designing learning spaces for thinking, you not only enhance student learning but also make your teaching more sustainable and fulfilling. Remember, effective teaching isn’t just about what we tell students – it’s about the spaces we create for them to think.
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