InventorSpot

Technology is developing across every genre around the world. Sometimes though it takes a really simple idea to make us realize that. One such idea came from the minds Gollifer Langston's Architects based in London. Their idea for a transportable "Classroom of the Future" could very well change how we look at modern education.

The basic idea is simple, take the latest in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the best tools for teaching you can find, put them into a nice compact package and move it from school to school teaching anyone who wants to learn. Obviously it's more complicated than that, but that pretty well touches the impact the idea could have.

Once the classroom is delivered, hydraulic rams force both sides to expand. Ramps are placed at the entrances for safety purposes and then the interior can be setup as desired. Among the goodies found inside the prototype are a stage, a small-cinema-sized screen for presentations, film editing tools and a respectable sound system. When fully expanded, it can hold up to 15 students and 1 instructor.

The most prominent problem schools have is trying to keep up with changing information and teaching techniques. Having a portable "pod" for a classroom means that the old one can be taken away and replaced with the most up-to-date version. Since the shells should remain the same, old ones can be remodeled and then used again to cut down on the waste.

Another interesting aspect of using such a system is that, in some cases, travel won't necessary for specialized classes. Supposed your school wants to have a 2 week formal training course about safe driving. Unless there are spare rooms available, room will have to be made either during the day or after school has let out. When class is over, everything must be returned to the way it was prior and it starts over again the next day. If one of these classrooms is utilized, you can setup the class and not have to worry about anything except teaching.

The prototype is currently in use in Camden, just outside of London. There is no official word on future development.

Via : TheCoolHunter , Gollifer Langston Architects