Digital and Physical Learning Spaces for Student Athletes

Abstract

The changing educational landscape requires a critical analysis of how learning spaces adapt to the needs of specific student populations, particularly student-athletes. This group faces the unique challenge of balancing rigorous training and competition schedules with academic deadlines, making traditional learning models often insufficient. This article explores the synergy between physical spaces and digital environments in supporting athletes' educational success. Through a mixed methods approach, the research examines how the integration of mobile technologies and the design of “hybrid” physical spaces can reduce cognitive load and logistical stress. The study proposes a framework for academic institutions to optimise the learning ecosystem, arguing that an integrated design of spaces is crucial to promote dual careers for student-athletes in a post-digital era.