How Informal Learning Spaces Are Changing the Way Kids Learn with Anne Fullenkamp

What if your school building wasn't just a place where learning happens, but one of the most powerful teachers in the room?

In this episode, Mark Barga sits down with Anne Fullenkamp, Senior Director of Creative Experiences at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, to explore how thoughtfully designed spaces can spark curiosity, boost confidence, and expand what students believe is possible. From hallways that invite discovery to classrooms that adapt to every learner, Anne reveals how architecture can quietly shape mindsets, behaviors, and futures.

Drawing from her accidental journey from practicing architect to museum exhibit designer—where she's spent nearly two decades living alongside her own designs—Anne shares how truly student-centered environments are built through empathy, collaboration, and treating schools like the laboratories they can be.

Takeaways:

• Buildings as learning tools: Design schools that actively participate in learning, not just house it—every wall, hallway, and corner can tell a story
• Start with "what if": Center design charrettes on how spaces will look and feel, not just how many seats you need
• Remove barriers to curiosity: Create environments where teachers can respond in the moment without calling facilities for a work order
• Make movement matter: Balance gross motor and fine motor experiences throughout the day—even the hallways can serve learning
• Design for adaptability: Treat schools like museums—plan for environments to evolve with changing pedagogy and technology over 50+ years
• Budget smarter, not bigger: You don't need massive investments to start—make small bets, experiment with a corner or underused classroom first
• When learners thrive, communities flourish: This is the heart of radically student-centered design

About Anne Fullenkamp:

Anne Fullenkamp, Associate AIA, LEED AP, Senior Director of Creative Experiences, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

With more than 25 years of experience in the museum design and architectural fields, Anne is responsible for design and execution of museum experiences at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. In her role as Senior Director of Creative Experiences, she oversees the Museum’s permanent exhibits and collections, artist residencies, traveling exhibit program, design consulting and other business development programs, leading complex design teams consisting of artists, scientists and researchers. 

Since joining the Museum of Pittsburgh in 2006, Anne has served as lead designer, contributing to the on-going development of the Museum's Play with Real Stuff design philosophy for informal learning environments that advocates for authenticity in all museum experiences.  In addition, she is leading the Museum’s universal design initiative, working with cultural organizations in Pittsburgh to advise on best practices for update the physical amenities to help make the city a hub for accessibility in the arts. As part of this work, she was part of the team to coordinate the implementation of Universal Design practices on the Museum campus, that resulted in MuseumLab, a major capital project on campus, receiving isUD certification from the University at Buffalo, School of Architecture and Planning’s Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA Center). Anne is the point person for ongoing research with the IDEA Center in the application of universal design principles on our campus.  Likewise, she has received training from in the IDEA Center in the practice of universal design and continues to pursue continuing education opportunities in the discipline. 

In recent years, Anne’s work in inclusive design practices has expanded to include her design consulting work with K-12 schools. As part of the Museum’s vision to transform education, Anne serves as an experience consultant for school districts, teachers and architects to help maximize the informal learning opportunities within the formal school environment, focusing specifically on the convergence of social-emotional learning and STEAM curriculum with overall health and wellbeing of the school community.

 

Learn More About Kay-Twelve:

Website: https://kay-twelve.com/

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Episode 305 of the Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

For more information on our partners:

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/

EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/

Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/

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