In order for college campuses to meet the needs of a changing society in the midst of countless concurrent technological revolutions, it is imperative that the universities of tomorrow boast “smart” campuses. A “smart” college campus needs to put students first and their interconnected learning experiences at the forefront.
In order for a “smart” college campus to stay relevant for upcoming decades and through a host of technological and learning paradigm shifts, the institutional norms of past universities must be left in the past. In their wake, a new type of campus that embraces community and immersive learning spaces will serve a student populace headed into a job market where soft skills are valued first and foremost.
Ending The Classroom In Favor Of More Adept Learning Spaces
The age of the traditional lecture hall has come and passed. The primary heartbeat of a “smart” college campus needs to eschew such an archaic model in favor of learning studios that facilitate group work and a sense of a learning community.
To complement these learning spaces, comfortable furniture and teachers with adaptable teaching styles are imperative for making it work. We need to make the college of tomorrow inviting to students. In doing so, we can break down the walls that traditional education has built by giving students a safe space to really stretch their intellects.
Furthermore, all of the learning spaces and connected spaces within a “smart” college campus must be networked and connected to the Internet of Things. There is no use shying away from technology and the impact it has and will have on a changing student populace.
Connecting Your Campus To Connect With Your Students
Every space on a “smart” college campus needs to be an intuitive rethink of the traditional spaces on a college campus. The library can’t simply be a place to check out books anymore.
Rather, a “smart” college campus will have a library that brings all the best elements of a traditional one and adds an interconnected element. Curating infographics, multimedia sources, and even providing a virtual study environment for students to immerse themselves in will be crucial in reimagining what a library could and should be for students of the future.
Even academic offices will need to be rethought in hopes of bringing professors closer to students by cutting down on the red tape that causes dissonance on traditional college campuses. A “smart” college campus will be an empathetic one. It will foster a sense of community among its professors, administrators, and students.
Rather than relying on office buildings, a “smart” college campus will have collaborative workspaces that serve to encourage free thought and discourse.
Concluding Thoughts
The blueprint for a “smart” college campus needs to put away traditional administrative ideals in favor of embracing the changing needs of society. For a college campus to survive and thrive in this new age, we must put archaic structures aside in favor of spaces that encourage active and interconnected modes of learning.
