Contemporary research has stressed the importance of extending learning beyond the classroom into the ‘in-between’ spaces such as corridors/walkways and also into the external spaces.

These areas can be better utilised for learning activities involving differing degrees of quiet to collaborative learning. By having a flow and sense of connectedness across the learning environment, this allows for more choice for teachers and students outside of a traditional classroom to tailor their experiences.

US educational design expert Diana Oblinger notes a learning environment should offer a variety of settings and should be fluid to accommodate different teaching and learning styles fluently, due to our uniqueness as individuals.

Fluidity can be achieved through use of transparency, limiting use of full-height barriers, aesthetic devices that lead people through space, ubiquitous technology, protocols that encourage use of exterior spaces and programmes that make use of community spaces.