Learning is never just about what we learn. It is also about where.

Every space holds the potential to shape how we think, feel, and connect. Schools are just one node in a wider landscape of learning. Streets, parks, libraries, markets, and museums, each place holds stories, perspectives, and invitations to see the world differently.

Inspired by the idea that the design and context of learning spaces deeply influence the learning experience, this one-week course explores the city as a living, breathing classroom. What does it mean to learn with a place, not just in it? How does the environment shape the way we learn and teach? What new possibilities open up when we view the city not just as a backdrop, but as an active participant in the learning process?

We believe that education can be global, but it must be meaningfully connected to its local community. Learning should begin where we are: rooted in the lived environments, neighborhood issues, and everyday realities of learners. It’s by engaging with local needs, resources, and voices that we can equip learners to also engage critically with broader societal and global challenges.

Drawing on the city of Reggio Emilia as a living example, we explore how schools can enter into dialogue with their surroundings,  transforming streets, piazzas, museums, and everyday places into sites of inquiry and creativity. Through reflective city walks, creative observation, school visits, and collaborative dialogue, we explore how to design learning experiences that are rooted in place, responsive to context, and open to surprise.