Whether you’re in middle school, high school, university, or anything in between, it has never been a better time to be a student.
Classroom designs around the globe embrace smart and practical new technologies filled with bright ideas in their buildings, all geared toward making it easier for students to explore learning.
It’s not all just for show, either - a 2012 study by the Miami-Dade Public School Board showed that modern architecture school facilities using active learning methods contribute to the well-being and academic performance of students and that teachers working in a more technologically advanced environment are more likely to keep their jobs.
Here at Bored Panda, we think these ingenious upgrades and big ideas deserve some recognition, so we’ve put together a list of some of the most creative school hacks and cool things people have installed at their buildings.
Vote for the ones you’d most like to bring to your principal’s desk, and add photos of your own school’s smart creations below!
This post may include affiliate links.
Technical University Munich Put Slides In Their Building. I'm Pretty Jealous
Um, call me cynical, but I think, "Bully + claustrophobic victim."
Load More Replies...Yay TUM, I used to go there! They're actually based on parabolas after the equation z=y=hx^2/d^2 :) Also, they're the fastest route from 3rd to ground floor!
I thought this was a jail for a min. Haha I was thinking way to let the inmates have fun. 😂🤣
School layouts were originally based on prison designs. The more you know__/-----*
Load More Replies...Why should this just be for schools? I say we need them in life...every where.
I want that I also want more time at recess I only have about 10 minutes. Is this at a high school
This Door In A Math Classroom
I wish I had that in elementary and middle school. Probably won't have it in high school
My Son's Homework Has A Barcode That When Scanned Takes Him To An Instructional Youtube Video Posted By His Teacher Related To The Lesson
My School's Periodic Table
I'm pretty sure...no one cares...but...if they do....the two are similar, but not exactly the same. Soooo....either Bill Gates stole the idea from the school or the school stole it from him...or...maybe (anything is possible) 2 people had the same idea. *shrugs* It's still cool.
Load More Replies...I hate THE PERIODIC TABLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This Japanese Kindergarten Is Built Around A Tree
This would be so awesome i was always building forts in the woods as a kid, i would have loved school if it were a giant treehouse
Japan must have good weather often. We could not pull this off in Alaska.
I Found This In My School Computer Room
My Son's School Has A Vending Machine For School Supplies
They should sell hair ties as well- I lose one every time I take out my ponytail!
My elementary school had pencil and paper vending machines back in the 70s.
now quickly write this down and share your ideas with work then it will spread lol so other schools can get this :)
We got pencils and paper for free when i went to school for 30-40 years ago. My son goes to school now and he gets pencils and paper for free. We live in Sweden.
That's how it works in civilized countries. The US is all about profit.
Load More Replies...Or, you know, fund schools better so all students have access to basic school supplies...
New Preschool In Japan Collects Rainwater Into Puddles For Kids To Play In
You NEVER too old to do whatever makes you happy! :)
Load More Replies...How My University Is Helping Us Get Over Exam Stress
Oh yes... those... hm... Everytime I get a package, I get glassy eyes after a few seconds of "pop... pop... pop..." I find it disturbingly addictive :x Pop.... pop... pop... pop...
Because it's already hard enough to concentrate when you're stressted, hearing constant pops might cause a few people to go into a murderous rage.
Load More Replies...Me, when I was studying. To get over in exam stress, I will food! more food food. :D
I love this idea.All you have to do is put one sheet in that box every time you get a package!
Oh, man! At first glance, I thought that was cocaine... stress reliever extraordinaire.
My Cooking Class Has A Mirror On The Ceiling So We Can See What The Teacher Is Doing
Our school does too, i'm pretty sure a lot of schools have this since my sister's school did too
Yeah, this is really common. There's 1 in my cooking classroom at school, and I've seen others too.
That's an awesome idea when your in a cooking class its hard to see what's the teacher is doing, this way you can hear and see. Two sences are better then one.
My University Has Coasters That Can Test Your Drink For Rape Drugs
This is BS, and DANGEROUS. NO TEST can be sensitive to every possible chemical composition of any given drug, which means this test would be WRONG a hell of a lot - leading to a false sense of security. When drinking in public, know where your drink is, don't accept drinks from strangers, and be aware.
This. Don't lose sight of your drink. If you happen to be alone and have to go use the restroom or whatever, finish your drink or order a new after returning.
Load More Replies...looks like jesse pinkman from breaking bad, sure thats not aaron paul?
These aren't DARK blue, they are just still wet. See above what colour they had to be.
Load More Replies...School Paints Lockers As Book Spines To Create An "Avenue Of Literature"
But would they have extremely challenging book titles? Such as Madam Bovary, Moby D**k, etc. It's important to expand your reading level.
Hey, reading is reading. With very few exceptions, I don't care WHAT THE kids read as long as they're READING!
Don't forget the expressionless faces. Twihards love expressionless faces.
Load More Replies...Maybe they were choosing what book they want on their lockers :) So maybe you could choose your favourite
Load More Replies...I need which ever one has Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
Our Local High School Has Solar Panel Tables With Usb Outlet Ports For Students To Charge Their Devices
We have these too ^_^ Just as a bench, not a table, but still! zonnebank_...g_0178.jpg
Hate Getting Stuck Behind Slow People On The Stairs? My School Just Put These In Everywhere On Campus
I HAVE NO IDEA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But people do it so... if you give them a lane the others will not be inconvenienced
Load More Replies...Not sure I agree, not safe to text going up or down stairs, not save to run up or down stairs
Why are the running people in the middle, where they're going to disrupt the walking and texting people? This makes no sense.
This School Has A Slide Direct From Classroom To Playground. Childhood Dream
Pretty good incentive to use by the teacher, too. The best pupil each morning gets to go FIRST down the slide at recess!
Load More Replies...my kids old kindergarden had one, too- it was an emergency slide in case of fire- it was an old building but they where allowed to use it regularly anyway!
Me as a kid:Me first me first Me: Shovels everyone to get in the front of the line
They used to call those fire escape slides in the mid twentieth century...
My Daughter's First Grade Classroom Has Desks With Pedals So Kids Can Move While Learning
Imagine all the whirring sounds as the teacher is addressing the students. Or the background noise while doing math problems. Solution: bring back recess where the little demons can burn up the excess energy outside the classroom. Common Sense 101
Imagine all the fat kinds in america who die due to obesity before they can even use the math. Besides if you have proper bearings and oil them enough they won't make that much noise, if at all.
Load More Replies...I wouldn't waste the kinetic energy, I would connect them to the generator and then gather the energy they produce O.o
This is hilarious and so fun. Great idea! Especially helpful for autistic kids, I’m sure. ☺️
The Science Building In My University Has Periodic Tables
My University Provides Students With Dogs As A Stress Reliever During Finals Week
Seeing some of your other post Den. I am starting to believe you are a huge dog lover! Am I right?
Load More Replies...I am terrified of dogs, but for some reason all dogs seems to want to get to know me.
My college does this. It's late at night though, so only beneficial if you live on campus
my high school had therapy dogs in one of the courtyards once! they should do this kind of thing more often
I want to start a business providing these dogs. Wow, I never would have left college.
My School Has Skateboard Parking
is it able to lock? just asking. because i'm afraid if someone stole it.
It's locked as you can't make it slide sideways (the wheels block) nor pull it thanks to the padlock.
Load More Replies...That's a gnarly (good) looking skateboard. Someone actually takes the time to enjoy it.
Someone can snap your board by stepping on both sides really hard. Happened before. Not very smart.
if this is for a high school, it's pretty cool as kids are dumb with their boards.
Clever - but not really. Just unscrew trucks and Presto! A new stolen board.
My University Math Lab Chairs Have Binary On Them
"Who really translates this to ASCII, has too much time."
Load More Replies...there are 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary and those who don't
This Vending Machine At My School Sells Various School Supplies
If you want cheap supplies, be prepared. If you aren't prepared you get to over pay for things you need. It's not about being cheap it's about being responsible.
Load More Replies...this would actually be helpful like if you forget something you need and you just go to the vending machines to get whatever you need! (^ o ^)
This Just Got Installed At My School. A Public Work Bench For Your Bicycle Compete With Tools And A QR Code For Common Repair Help
they have these at a university in Australia, brilliant idea. these need to be distributed around town
Looks like Spain, can't imagine this being in the US.. tools stolen, pump missing and probably in the end the stand
Load More Replies...Classroom Clock
I'm glad i know what these stand for, otherwise i would be lost and never know the time :D
Or....If you knew how clocks work.... you wouldn''t need to solve them... as it's quite easy to tell which is which without the numbers...
Load More Replies...Even though I know the time by the placement of the hands, I tried to do the math. Now my head hurts ☹️
Load More Replies...by mere position of hr and min hand people read time. no one gonna actually calculate it.
The one for 3 is incorrect. As pi is irrational, it would be 3.00159..., not simply 3.
My School Gym Has A Complimentary Sunscreen Dispenser
Clearly not from a country with a huge skin cancer problem :/
Load More Replies...This Is How My University Stops Thieves
It amazes me what simple solutions are out there while people are delving into complicated ways of solving the same things
Yeah but it's not always as sinister as it seems. I know I've accidentally stolen people's stuff when I'm in a hurry everything gets thrown in my bag. I do always return things if i realize what's happened, but I imagine some kids might not even notice.
Load More Replies...So they run on solar power? (otherwise how do they change the battery?)
Yes, they have the little solar strips at the top :)
Load More Replies...This Stapler Is Mounted Outside Of A Classroom In One Of My University's Buildings. I Have Never Seen This Before, But It Is A Brilliant Idea
Must be Mr. Waddams' class. He finally figured how to stop stapler thieves.
Lovely Counting Stairs
Actually it can help people who have problems reading to distinguish the letters
Load More Replies...My School Has A Nap Room
My university has one too. But for girls only. However, our campus had plenty of nap-worthy spaces that many students use very often.
this would be the best thing ever. I am always falling asleep in class and it doesn't bother me but the teachers don't really like it they are bots
This Machine That Detects Sound-Level At My University's Library
The middle one is like "oh boy, here we go again, the noisy ones have arrived"
That's the look on my face about 80% of the time. There are common areas at school but everything that's not should be a quiet zone because our school is very competitive & we need every spare second to study!
Load More Replies...I want this for my classroom! I have one boisterous class that I love but they can be loud!
This is from a Judy moody/Stink book it was called the yak buster 5000
we had that in my elementary school. when it got to the red it was so loud
omg i f*****g hated this....not to bash or anything but they set this thing next to all the special ed kids at lunch , and meanness to say when one of them spazed out ( turning) it red made everyone in the cafeteria be quite for 5m
They had a decibel meter like that in a school where my wife worked a couple of years ago. They had to take it away because the kids had screaming competitions to get it to level red.
My Kid's New School Has A Twirly Slide To Get Downstairs
I wish mine had this too. We have an overcrowding and long queues problem with the elevators. I'm on the 18th floor, though...
Load More Replies...Hmmm, quite a fall at the end, plus the chance of slamming into a passerby. Otherwise totally up for it.
Cool Classroom For ADHD Teens In Israel
My University Has A Secured Charging Station You Can Safety Lock And Charge Your Devices
Make sure they aren't linked to a computer where your info can be stolen from
Why would a charger need to linked to a computer? Insulated walls in the station cubicles to keep the phones from inadvertently talking to each other perhaps...
Load More Replies...Good idea from the teacher's part because it also puts a stop to people being on their phones in class
these are in a few casinos in Vegas too. i imagine people tossing their phones in one of these, getting drunk, and forgetting all about it.... forever....
My university has these too :) Never used them though, I usually just charge my phone or laptop wherever I'm working (because all study spots have chargers).
My College Has A Vending Machine For Violin Strings And Woodwind Reeds
My sister, who plays violin, saw this and started sawing how she's going to that university
There's also cello and viola strings in there. They aren't the same.
mouth peices cost a lot, and there might have been cleaners that were all used up
Load More Replies...The Skylight In My University's Math Building Is Decorated By Fibonacci Spirals
Basement Floor Of My Campus Library Has A Treadmill With A Computer, So You Can Exercise And Study At The Same Time
I wouldn't be able to concentrate. I'd probably stop walking and face-plant the treadmill but cool idea... I guess?
You know what people do during recess? Sit and talk with friends or have a drink or text someone. They don't use this for "excess energy". I totally agree with the treadmill + computer concept, I used the same at home but with my bike. (and we had 30 minutes recess / 4 hours)
Load More Replies...How To Encourage College Kids To Recycle
Aren't college students supposed to be young adults? Are you sure this isn't for much younger students?
Why did Facebook suddenly become obsessed with minions. This is why I left Facebook
This School Has A Water Fountain And Bottle Fountain
my school has this but its a two in one - the water fountain is slightly pulled outwards from the wall while the bottle fountain is pressed against it (the wall)
My Chemistry Teacher Modded His Classroom Lab Tables. Installed Semi-Touch Screen Computers Into The Middle Of The Desks With Mac Mini's, Wii Remotes, Projectors, Etc.
Oh my god, I want that in all my classrooms! Must have cost a fortune though.
My University Puts QR Codes On Some Of The Trees So That Passersby And Students Can Identify Them
Putting a QR code triggers their curiosity. Humans don't like when they don't know what a thing is.
Load More Replies...Kids don't care. The ones that do are too young to have phones. It's just nailing something to a tree which could be put on a little stand next to it.
if you wanted to do an outdoor activity requiring student to find a certain tree for points in a game it could be fun!
or they could take a look at the leafes and the bark to find out what tree it is. And if they still don't know, they can use a classificationbook.
My University Has Marker Board For Walls In Their Library Study Rooms
My old school had this, to but in this case the wall were clean every school night
The good things about walls is that you can repaint them. I used to work in a language school where the walls between classrooms were glass and you could write on them :)
Load More Replies...My Windowless Classroom Has Fake Sky Panels In Place Of The Plastic Covers On The Fluorescent Lights
Good morning and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night.
Load More Replies...Put sun-collectors on the roof and let the sunlight come to the windowless classroom through fiberoptics. Then you can see the sunlight in the classroom.
In Addition To Bike Racks, My School Has Skateboard Racks
Just the fact that the school is thinking of ways to assist the students is amazing!!
Omg girl u blind straight up the 2nd time there is a lock on them
Load More Replies...My Schools Propaganda Against E-Cigs
I thought you mean burritos. Doesn't matter the price, the burrito wins.
Load More Replies...How can you even compare this? People don't stop smoking to eat a burrito. People don't smoke because they're hungry. e-cigs are a fantastical invention. My mom smoked cigarettes for over 30 years and only thanks to that she stopped 3 years ago, with success.
They’ comparing prices, and trying to get kids to not smoke ya idiot
Load More Replies...My School Has An All Gender Restroom
I would have no idea what that symbol means. At least they put the words next to it.
Why? Sometimes one has a long line. If you need to go, what does it matter?
Load More Replies...My University Has Solar Powered Picnic Tables
It has phone chargers/outlets on the umbrella stand
Load More Replies...My College Just Installed New White Board Tables
The Most Amazing Desk I Have Sat In In College!
We have these at my University, they aren't so great. I don't like that I can't lean back, and there's like only one comfortable position to sit in.
Yeah they look like form edged out function in the design.
Load More Replies...Every Math's Teachers Dream Door Mat
The other one was simpler and more effective. Also, the mat can move and lose its accuracy. Add who is going to clean the mat when dirty and put it back exactly where it needs to be.
But for someone who isn't allowed to directly write on the floor of the school, it's a good alternative.
Load More Replies...The centre of the compass is not at the hinge of the door though :(
The Supermarket At My University Allows You To Up/Downvote New Products And At 50 Likes It Is Adapted Into The Shop
It's the only carbonated drink I'll ever drink. It's amazing
Load More Replies...My College Has Chairs To Help With Stairway Evacuations
I think they ought to have them outside every stairwell.
Load More Replies...Of course not, it would be used by the drunks for fun... Weeee!
Load More Replies...I have this in my high school. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the law to have those.
Great Way To Learn
An Easy Improvement
Because depending on age group, they should know multiplication by 1s,2s,5s, and 10s
Load More Replies...The missing values are the easy ones. It is meant as a visual reminder. We can all visualise the Disney or McDonald's sign because it is displayed so often we don't need to pause to read it.
This Class Has A Mirror At The Back So The Teacher Can See The Students' Monitors
The Pharmacy Building At My University Has A Mock CVS Pharmacy To Train Students
The Clock In My Chemistry Classroom
It's to help you remember number of elements on the periodic table. For example: C = Carbon. Periodic number = 6 on the periodic table
Just imagine someone lazy to look up the clock asking for what time is it, then you will answer in periodical table instead of the numbers itself. Like 10:30, then you will go saying Ne Ar or Ti C😂😂
If you memorize the periodic table of elements, Mg - Magnesium H - Hydrogen He - Helium Li - Lithium Be - Beryllium B - Boron C - carbon N - Nitrogen O - Oxygen F - Fluorine Ne- Neon Na - Sodium
My University Has Classes In A Movie Theatre And We Have Desks That Fit Into The Cupholders
I think there's a cup holder in the design, because the ones in the seats are holding the desk :)
The Flexible, Creative Working Spaces Inside The Stanford d.School
A School I Visited Yesterday Had Useful Reminders On Every Step In The Mathematics Department
So helpful, when I was studying, during mg exam. I'm also have a piece of paper of those formula.
"Spy With The Shimmering Cloak" Area In Elementary School Where Students Can Experience The Idea Of The Periscope, Explore The Colour Spectrum, Learn About Complementary Colours And Many More
How to die in tf2. Step 1: play spy Step 2: cloak Step 3: bump any player on the enemy team Step 4: repeat
Wouldn't it be awesome if all elementary schools had this kind of thing!
Staircase At My University Gives You A Step By Step Calorie Burn Count
how many KCAL will burn if I will spend my day on this staircase? ;D *fat*
My Little Sisters School Has A Vending Machine For Books
My University Has Peep-Holes On Classroom Doors So You Don't Walk In On A Class
It is for If you want help from a teacher or something you don't interrupt if their is a class going on.
There a lot of people on this site for whom English is a second language, don't criticise. At least they speak a second language :)
@Anastasia Cyr'Nyth hm, I was not trying to be rude, I'm really sorry! I was just curious... Sometimes it's a bit difficult to write it in a way for everyone to unterstand how I mean it - as a not native speaker.
So you can check you are entering the right classroom and not interrupting a lesson where you should not be...
Load More Replies...My Daughter's School Uses These To Transport Babies Around The Campus
It's an excellent way to safely transport preschoolers around campus...
The Mathematics Building At My University Numbers Each Step From The Ground Up, With The Prime Numbers In Red
An the bottom of the stairs: welp... looks like I'll have to jump :)
Load More Replies...Creative Stairs
All you need to do is pick a colour and count as you go up
Load More Replies...Multiplication Up
That's overloaded. Kids wouldn't pay attention to that as there's too much there.
My University Has An Ear Plug Dispenser In The Library
2 dollars seems extremely overpriced. Last time I checked, you can get a 50 pieces bag for this price...
Yeah, $2 seems overly expensive. I could see fifty cents -maybe-...but definitely not two bucks.
Load More Replies...At the university level, everyone should know that the dollar sign goes in front of the number, not at the back.
There Is A Chemicals Vending Machine In My University's Chemistry Department
This isn't a disaster waiting to happen... just my kind of school! Where is this, because I wanna get in!
My School Has These Small Spikes So You Cant Sit There Incase You Fall Down
I guess making the railings to thin for comfortable sitting was just too difficult. Then again the style of these banisters looks like they were built long ago...when people acted like adults in public.
*lmao* Oh! *laughing harder* Ye ain't much of a historian, is ya, boss? Not even the flagpoles were safe from Victorians. Students have always climbed everything. flagpolesi...49d459.jpg
At My High School Everyone Has His Own Socket And Ethernet Slot
A lot of Swedish citys have free WIFI in the public schools. I would guess that a majority of the private schools also have free WIFI in the school.
Hallway In A High School That Has A Periodic Table And Other Science Formula On Ceiling.
My Daughter's Elementary School Has A Pen, Pencil, And Paper Vending Machine
This Clock In Our Science Class
I get the whole "creativity" concept, but this clock looks a bit too cluttered for me...
If you are able to read a mechanical clock, you don't need to read the stuff there to know what time it is :)
Load More Replies...Most people use smartphones for telling the time these days, clocks like these are really good for making you think...
Background radiation temperature of space is 2.725°K, not 3°K as on the clock. Science teacher needs retraining!
RIP clocks !!! WHY they ruin simple time telling device.can't come with other ideas?
They're meant to be amusing! Anyone who knows how to read an analog clock doesn't actually need the numbers (Think of all the watches that have at most four little tick-marks).
Load More Replies...Staircase In Highschool For Math Subject!
Cell Phone Charging Station In High School
I think they're a terrible idea. Phones shouldn't be allowed in schools.
Maybe if they turned them off while in class their batteries wouldn't die.
Smart phones can be great teaching tools. Books are in there, maps, video lessons, the internet can augment lessons. School is supposed to prepare you for life. Students need to learn acceptable use. Confiscation doesn't teach anything.
these are all so smart and useful... they should do these in all schools
all great idesas, but would be nice to see more examples for schools with low budgets.
Repeated a lot of the things didn't you? How many times maths on the stairs, multiple vending machines etc. Got a bit boring and repetitive. But in general some cool ideas. But how about some innovative ideas for schools in less than privileged areas? Where there isn't money for most of these gadgets?
these are all so smart and useful... they should do these in all schools
all great idesas, but would be nice to see more examples for schools with low budgets.
Repeated a lot of the things didn't you? How many times maths on the stairs, multiple vending machines etc. Got a bit boring and repetitive. But in general some cool ideas. But how about some innovative ideas for schools in less than privileged areas? Where there isn't money for most of these gadgets?
