Spaceoasis

When refurbishing learning spaces, choosing colours can be really tricky. We’ve produced a few resources to help including this article:
Six ways to get colours right in learning spaces.

https://spaceoasis.com/colours/

Someone once said that to create a writable table, you just needed to cover it in Sellotape or sticky back plastic. As a company that has invested in developing a writable surface that’s ultra-cleanable, durable and tested to BSEN 14434, can we just say, er, no? Please don’t do that and please do have a look at our LearningSurface range instead. Thanks.

https://spaceoasis.com/learning-surface/

Creating clearly defined zones in work or learning spaces is crucial to their success. It’s also really important to accommodate people’s needs: some people need a place for a quiet moment, others need spaces where they can be loud and busy. To meet these very different needs requires zones and a bit of design thinking. Find out more here: https://spaceoasis.com/zoning/

We’re often asked: what exactly is a Learning Commons? It’s a multipurpose learning space that encompasses elements of a library in that it’s rich in resources (books and digital access) but also has spaces for collaborative working, independent study and socialising (some schools include a café space). It’s a very flexible space where all types of learning can take place – both as individual learners and as groups.

https://spaceoasis.com/21st-century-skills/

We’ve distilled what we’ve learned about the neuroscience of learning space design into six key principles. If you’ve got a school refurbishment project coming up, this is definitely worth a read!

https://spaceoasis.com/neuroscience-2/

If you’re redecorating your classrooms this summer, you might want to look at our Insights section on the learning effect of colours. It explains how colours affect people differently (particularly the neurodiverse), the cultural context of different colours and what colours may be best suited to different learning tasks.

https://spaceoasis.com/colours/

Writing and scribing strengthens neuronal pathways and helps lay down knowledge in the long term memory. If your learners work primarily on ipads or laptops, integrating writable surfaces into classrooms could help – this is particularly true of neurodivergent children who benefit from having a physical element to learning.

https://spaceoasis.com/learning-surface/

Is learning an untapped source of marginal gains in sport? When we redesigned GB Hockey’s training facility it sparked some interest from other elite sports organisations. Here’s how sports can benefit from collegial, agile coaching spaces that harness neuroscience for performance gains.

https://spaceoasis.com/elite-sports/

If you’re redesigning or refurbishing a learning space, the first question you have to ask is: “What do I want students to be able to DO in the space?”. Work quietly? Work together? Socialise? Discuss and debate? Present to their peers? Your answers will help shape the form of the room and therefore what furniture and equipment you need. To ponder on this further, visit our Insights section.

https://spaceoasis.com/form-follows-function/

Schools that want to equip learners with ‘soft skills’ such as collaboration, problem solving, working independently, creativity and critical thinking are redesigning their learning environments to suit. Breakout spaces, multifunctional learning commons, STEAM labs, robotics studios and libraries where learners create and share, as well as acquire knowledge are gaining in popularity. It’s all about developing 21st century skills.

https://spaceoasis.com/21st-century-skills/

We wanted to find out how environments influence behaviour, attention and motivation and how to apply this knowledge when designing learning environments, so we started working with Dr Tim Holmes, a neuroscientist. Several years on, the insights he helped create still inform our design work today. So, with huge thanks to Dr Tim, you can read all about the neuroscience of learning space design here!

https://spaceoasis.com/neuroscience-2/

What colours are best for learning spaces? It’s a question we’re often asked, one that doesn’t have any easy answers and one that definitely needs careful consideration. Reading this is a good place to start: Understanding the impact of colour within classrooms may change the way we create learning spaces.

https://spaceoasis.com/blog-posts/2015/05/understanding-the-impact-of-colour-within-classrooms-may-change-the-way-we-create-learning-spaces/

Large-scale writable surfaces provide an expansive canvas on which to unpack and explore ideas – which is they are so popular in learning and working environments. Whether you’re brainstorming or figuring out a problem, being able to work together across an entire wall is just better than a flipchart on a wobbly stand (which instantly makes everyone’s handwriting illegible). Find out more about our range of dry-wipe writable surface products: https://spaceoasis.com/learning-surface/

It’s so exciting to see the success of Team GB’s Hockey squads - both through to the quarter finals of the Olympics! It takes us back to 2018 when we redesigned their off-pitch learning space. In elite sports, learning might be the last untapped source of marginal gains.

Creating a space where athletes can learn in an active, physical way, with collegiality and teamwork at its heart could give them the edge.

Read about what we did for Team GB Hockey’s learning space here: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__spaceoasis.com_projects_2018_03_elite-2Dlearning-2Dwith-2Dthe-2Dteam-2Dgb-2Dhockey-2Dsquad_&d=DwMGaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=m0tdy1h7V_3eWBKsZ5ily5MolPCI7Xo0wKFpD6wf-A0&m=xFJQJz_ztJFGRREqVXrEwPzxjL-NwZKNaoxO5E4CjXDxu_ljQoiOKtmEvEvn31Hj&s=lw_zhJkv5ODoSMum6dTlm4A_lCRo8J4SvmQLsvaS3Dg&e=

Or download our Elite Sports Learning Spaces Special Issue of CREATE magazine here: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__spaceoasis.com_wp-2Dcontent_uploads_2019_06_CREATE-2DElite-2DSports-2DSpecial.pdf&d=DwMGaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=m0tdy1h7V_3eWBKsZ5ily5MolPCI7Xo0wKFpD6wf-A0&m=xFJQJz_ztJFGRREqVXrEwPzxjL-NwZKNaoxO5E4CjXDxu_ljQoiOKtmEvEvn31Hj&s=ImwXW7UpxXnj_PTN1kRyLHE_vRQACo4uCSORBQwVS8E&e=

We originally did our research into the neuroscience of space design to find out how it impacts learning, but it’s just as relevant to office spaces. Creating clear zones designed for specific tasks and enabling relationship-building by creating shared and social spaces are just as important for offices. You can read more about it here: https://spaceoasis.com/neuroscience-2/

Hybrid working has really sharpened people’s needs for different zones within offices. Used to working at home, hearing ‘Steve’ bellowing away on a Zoom call or watching ‘Sandra’ pacing up and down while talking on the phone is enough to give anyone conniptions. Create spaces for Sandra and Steve and you’ll keep everyone happy. Find out the six key zones for happy and harmonious workspaces here: https://spaceoasis.com/blog-posts/2018/05/six-key-zones-for-activity-based-workspaces/

How do you encourage students to take up STEM subjects? One option is taking STEM out of scary labs where tinkering is actively (and understandably) discouraged and into agile spaces where students can experiment and collaborate. Desborough College is one school that did just that.

https://spaceoasis.com/projects/2021/02/real-world-stem-learning/

Did you know that by changing the layout of your classroom, you’re priming the brain for learning? Rather than slipping into autopilot, you switch into learning mode to navigate a ‘new’ space. Find out more about how learning environments affect attention, motivation and behaviour here.

https://spaceoasis.com/neuroscience-2/

Someone once said that to create a writable table, you just needed to cover it in Sellotape or sticky back plastic. As a company that has invested in developing a writable surface that’s ultra-cleanable, durable and tested to BSEN 14434, can we just say, er, no? Please don’t do that and please do have a look at our LearningSurface range instead. Thanks.

https://spaceoasis.com/learning-surface/

Is your organisation’s learning style old school or elite? We created this checklist when working with elite sports teams to show how a more kinetic, collegiate, active style of learning is more engaging, particularly to athletes but also to learners of all ages. It’s also useful for organisations that deliver training and development.
https://spaceoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/CREATE-Elite-Sports-Special.pdf

Creating clearly defined zones in work or learning spaces is crucial to their success. It’s also really important to accommodate people’s needs: some people need a place for a quiet moment, others need spaces where they can be loud and busy. To meet these very different needs requires zones and a bit of design thinking. Find out more here: https://spaceoasis.com/blog-posts/2023/01/zoning-in/

We’ve distilled what we’ve learned about the neuroscience of learning space design into six key principles. If you’ve got a school refurbishment project coming up, this is definitely worth a read!

https://spaceoasis.com/neuroscience-2/