Flexible Learning Environments: How Do They Benefit Students?
Written by:
Wilson College
• Nov 4, 2024
Flexible learning environments—spaces in which students have a say in what, when, where, and how they learn—have been a part of education for decades. Their use in modern instruction is yielding benefits in the classroom and beyond.
Today’s flexible learning combines online applications and other technologies with in-person experiences to engage students, enhance understanding, and build job skills. Students who are pursuing an education degree to prepare for or advance in a teaching career, can strengthen their pedagogical skills by mastering the concept of flexible learning environments.
What Is a Flexible Learning Environment?
A flexible learning environment encourages students to participate in making decisions about how they learn. This student-centered space fosters creativity in learning material and in demonstrating knowledge about it when the lesson is complete. In a flexible learning environment, students might help decide how quickly they progress through material, for example, or they might have input on the types of lessons and materials they use to complete lessons.
Educators can encourage flexible learning both inside and outside the classroom, incorporating work-based learning and other extracurricular activities . They may also take an instructional approach that facilitates in-person and digital learning.
Types of Flexible Learning Environments
Teachers who provide a flexible learning environment are open to taking various approaches to instruction. They let the types of learning styles , aptitudes, and interests of their students dictate what methods of teaching they select. The following are common examples of flexible learning environments:
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Flipped Classroom: Students review course materials outside of class, allowing their teachers more time to provide class instruction that emphasizes interactive discussion and projects.
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Virtual Learning: Lessons are available through online platforms that allow students to learn from anywhere.
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Flexible Seating: Classroom furniture is designed in a way that provides students with the option of arranging seating to accommodate different activities and learning preferences.
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Microlearning: Teachers divide lessons into parts that can make it easier for students to manage.
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Open Learning: Learning spaces are large areas, often with many uses, that encourage students to collaborate and complete projects.
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Blended Learning: Students learn through a combination of in-person and online instruction tailored to their abilities and preferences.
Benefits of Flexible Learning Environments
When teachers provide flexible learning environments, they’re building the foundation for instruction that offers various short- and long-term benefits for students. From fostering a love of learning to preparing students for future careers, below are some of the positive outcomes that flexible learning can provide.
Allows for Personalization
A flexible learning environment adapts to the needs of individual students. Students can explore lesson concepts by using the method of learning they respond to best. Examples of options they may choose are the following:
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Reading along with instructional materials using digital audio tools
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Completing projects with a group of classmates
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Participating in one-on-one sessions with instructors to focus on specific concepts
Fosters Engagement
Because students in flexible learning environments have a voice in the methods they can use to learn, they’re more engaged in their education. This autonomy also encourages them to take the initiative in finding answers and solving problems that help them master each lesson’s material. These feelings of empowerment can make learning a better experience for students, as evidenced by a 2023 study in the International Journal of Educational Research Open showing a correlation between personalized learning and enjoyment of classwork.
Encourages Achievement
A flexible learning environment gives students autonomy in selecting a learning path. It gives them the option of selecting study methods, for example, or selecting focus areas within a subject. A 2023 review of literature about the impact of student autonomy, in Contemporary Educational Psychology, revealed that it can lead to better academic outcomes.
Promotes Equity
Research also supports the role of flexible learning environments in promoting student equity, with a 2023 examination of the issue in NPJ Science of Learning encouraging teachers to adapt instruction to each student’s unique needs. Teachers who provide instruction that caters to their students’ unique abilities help ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to access and learn from materials presented.
Teaches Workplace Skills
A review of LinkedIn’s 2024 list of top workplace skills reveals many of the same strengths that flexible learning environments can develop. With opportunities to engage in activities ranging from project-based work to independent decision-making, students can improve key on-the-job skills, such as:
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Communication
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Problem-solving
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Teamwork
Additionally, because flexible learning environments often incorporate digital tools, students can strengthen technological skills that will assist them in their careers.
How Teachers Can Create Flexible Learning Environments
Providing the benefits of a flexible learning environment requires the right plans, tools, and practices. By taking the following steps, educators can help ensure that they’re creating space that encourages flexible learning and student success:
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Communicating Clearly With Students and Families: Establishing transparent learning objectives and sharing that information with everyone in the class helps keep students on task, regardless of the learning path they select.
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Emphasizing Variety in Class Materials and Tools: Providing flexibility means offering materials and tools that cater to the various needs and interests of students, such as printed materials, online access, and assistance for those with disabilities.
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Evaluating the Setup of the Classroom: Seating arrangements should be suitable for different approaches to learning, such as groups of chairs that students can move for group work or comfortable individual seating that accommodates individual activities.
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Assessing Student Progress Regularly: Regular student evaluations help teachers monitor progress, regardless of what or how students are learning, and quickly make any necessary adjustments to instruction.
Enhance Student Success Through Flexible Learning Environments
If you want to build expertise in flexible learning environments and other concepts valuable in starting or advancing in an education career—and supporting student success—explore the education degree programs from Wilson College Online . The programs include degree offerings in different levels and areas of specialization:
All of the education programs provide in-depth instruction and training on classroom strategies that facilitate student learning and achievement. Discover how these programs can help you make a difference in the lives of others—and reach your career goals.
Recommended Readings
5 Child Care Careers With a Degree in Education
5 Types of Learning Disabilities Teachers Should Know
Benefits of Experiential Learning
Sources:
D2L, “The Complete Guide to Personalized Learning”
ED Tech RCE, “What Is a Flexible Learning Environment? Unlocking the Potential”
ELearning Industry, “Boosting Student Success Through Flexible Learning Spaces”
Future Education Magazine, “Unlocking Potential: The Power and Promise of Flexible Learning Spaces”
Kaltura, “What Is Flexible Learning + Strategies & Insights”
LinkedIn, “LinkedIn 2024 Most In-Demand Skills: Learn the Skills Companies Need Most”
NPJ Science of Learning, “On the Promise of Personalized Learning for Educational Equity”
