What is a 'learning environment'?

Ok, so.. what exactly is a learning environment?

In my opinion, we human beings can learn practically anywhere, and in an array of different ways.

1.) The first setting we as a society have grown accustom to and associate with learning, is that of the School classroom, which are typically indoor enclosed spaces. 

The layout of the classroom can be altered to cater to the differing ages and abilities of the pupils, or for different tasks, e.g. a quiet reading corner and an arts and crafts table, individual desks for individual work or larger tables for collaborative learning. Some classrooms are bright, vibrant and decorated in pupils work, whilst others are more simple and neautral, such as the typical Montassori Schools.

Below are some examples of the typical modern classroom, found in a Primary Schools around the UK today:

2.) School classrooms are not the only setting in which a person can gain knowledge. In fact, I believe learning outside of classroom settings can give pupils practical, authentic, hands on experience where they learn from others and from seeing and doing.

Museums; Forests; Mountains, Sea-sides; Shopping Centres; Butchers; Bakeries; Farms; Zoos; Castles; Libraries; Churches and of course in the home are a few of the many out of classroom settings in which a pupil can learn.

3.)With our increasing technology driven world, virtual learning and technology is beginning to become an integral part of our everyday learning environments, where pupils have access to  the internet; computers; Ipads; interactive whiteboards and computer suites and can therefore gain information much quicker than from books. 

Technology can now enable teachers to assess children more easily and stimulate children's enthusiasm through games and videos, which also more easily caters for differing learning styles.

Education systems are realising that we need to prepare our future generations for a more advanced world.. pupils no longer have the limited options of children in Schools half a century ago and are now so used to the modern amenities such as those mentioned above that learning in the more traditional and old fashioned way no longer fits the needs of the children.