For Museums, Library, and Public Spaces
Learning isn’t limited to a space. It lives in hallways, on museum floors, on library tables.The Wall-less Classroom is K.E. Lewis’ framework for designing learning experiences in spaces that were never classrooms and never needed to be. It is built from his classroom and museum work, funded by the LEGO Playful Learning Museum Network and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and independently evaluated by the Garibay Group.
One Framework.
Three Pillars.
Raise Engagement. Increase Retention. Keep them learning. Keep them coming back.
Relevance. Visitors engage with what matters to them. Every experience starts with “Why should this person care?” If the answer isn’t readily apparent, the experience needs work.
Multiple Access Points. One door means most people stay outside. Experiences built for readers and tinkerers, watchers and doers, the six-year-old and his grandmother alongside, sparking intergenerational moments.
Tinkering and Discovery. Hands busy, minds open. Discovery happens through play and active learning, structured so it feels like the visitor’s own idea.
The Framework in the Field
Discovery Through Design
A nine-week, LEGO-funded design challenge reaching 2,000 students in Charlotte’s underserved communities. Students toured the museum for inspiration, returned to their sites to build, and saw their finished work displayed at Discovery Place Science, where underrepresented groups were celebrated in a traditionally exclusive space.
rooted in community
Discovery Place Nature was intentionally designed, with the voices of Charlotte’s community reflected throughout, even in its architecture. With K.E. as project lead, a community advisory board and extensive prototyping helped shape the new museum before it broke ground, so every Charlottean could walk in and see themselves.
Rhinos & Planes
Partnering with the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, K.E. designed an immersive family experience that unpacked his award-winning book, Never Take Your Rhino on a Plane, and made it a cross-curricular experience that ignited children’s love for literacy, the sciences, and the arts.
Evaluation Built-In
The Wall-less Classroom’s methods will include appropriate
evaluation tools tailored to the project’s uniqueness and overall
scope.
WAYS We
Can Work
TOGETHER
Book a Relevance Audit.
The starting point. A focused review of an existing exhibit or program against the three pillars, with a prioritized list of recommendations.
Plan an Unravel.
Have K.E. take one of your most-taught or popular books and create a plan for a cross-curricular family day you can roll out year after year.
Execute a WALL-less Build.
Design collaboration on a new experience, from concept to polished product.
Train the Trainers to Craft Stellar Experiences.
Your staff learns the framework and how to create experiences based on K.E.’s methods.
License the WALL-less Framework.
The framework, the tools, consistent guidance, and continuous feedback to raise relevance and engagement.