Chapter 2

Chapter 2-

Changing the Process of Designing Schools p. 33

Key Idea-The process by which we create schools shapes the teaching and learning environments we design

-important decisions that define new schools are often based on assumptions stemming from the way we have always done things

-critical to get everyone who has a real interest in how the completed school will function to work together and define requirements

-define a broad vision for the future of the school related to learning

-delve into details required to realize your aspirations

-the architectural design reflects the vision related to the learning

Instruction should drive construction

Key Idea-School buildings must change because instruction must change

-need creative new designs that will support 21^st century learning

-if you want to change a product, you must change the process that was used to produce the product

-need suggestions of ways to modify our approach to yield the innovative new learning environments that will meet the needs of the students of tomorrow

TTWWADI (That’s the Way We Have Always Done It)

-is a mindset

-develops when things have been done the same way for so long that everyone assumes they must be right and should be continued into the future

-thus people continue to follow a procedure even if the reasons for that procedure are no longer valid

Key Idea-this thinking cannot produce the schools we need for the 21^st Century

Yogi Berra-“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else”

Quick Look at today’s design:

-school districts have separate departments to address instruction and curriculum, technology, and facility and maintenance responsibilities

-these departments report separately to the superintendent

-often operate quite independently and at times with conflicting priorities

-this conflict leads to personnel thinking that the others complicate their jobs

-facilities vs tech vs instructional staff

Maintenance staff

-want facilities built of the most permanent, durable and serviceable materials

Facilities staff

-new or renovated buildings are created by these people with little or no discussions or input from instructional or tech staff

-tend to focus on secondary details (too small, too dark, too hot, insufficient storage)

Technology staff

-focus on providing hardware and software for instructional staff

Instructional staff

-want the ability to easily change the layouts of classroom and desire flexibility in the building

-may feel that facilities staff are unresponsive to their charge to help kids learn

-aren’t quite sure what to do with the hardware and software provided by the techs

-become cynical because they know they have little say in what their workplace

Key Idea-Instruction is not currently shaping construction

In relation to TTWWADI’s how does this effect today’s classroom?

It is assumed that core instruction will be

· Teacher directed and teacher centered

· Occur in classrooms

· Address one discipline at a time

· Serve groups of approx 25-30 students

· Happen in equal periods of time over a nine month school year

· Focused on content

Question- should be “How do we want to teach?” instead of, “How many classrooms do we need?”

Core subjects are housed in rows of generic classrooms, while electives are housed in individually designed, specialized spaces.

Key Idea- The current process of school design is certain to result in schools that look, feel and operate like schools have for nearly a hundred years and does not match the needs of the students of tomorrow.

Shifting the Design p. 36

Key Idea-Start Asking Questions!!!

-What is currently missing from school desing is a process to set aside old assumptions about teaching and learning in order to allow people to develop new visions for the future.

How do we create a new vision for what a school should be?

-start by asking questions, then

· Start by looking at kids and learning

· Learning must prepare students for a world of constant change

· Learning must focus on 21^st Century thinking skills

· Learning must include 21^st Century fluency skills

· Learning must reflect the new digital reality

· Learning must be interdisciplinary

· Learning must be shaped for the individual

· Learning must engage 21^st century digital kids

· Learning must be connected to the outside world

· Learning opportunities should be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week

· Time, not learning, should be flexible

· Students should assume responsibility for their own learning

· Every student should have a close working relationship with at least one adult in the school

· Students should have their own personal place to work

· Assessment must encompass both knowledge skills and higher order thinking skills

· All students must be prepared so they can go on to some form of postsecondary studies

· The configuration of spaces within the school building must be highly flexible

The Key to Effective Visioning p. 48

Key idea-the visioning process is the only way to break out of the traditional mold of school planning and to design the new schools we need for the future

-The challenge stems from the power of TTWWADI

-IF you are able to get people to embrace new ideas about school design they often shrink back from the implications because the result is significantly different than anything they have ever seen before

…so they retreat to ideas and designs that are much more in line with the current schools

Imperative to have everyone involved keep asking themselves if the ideas being put forward are more about their own comfort level or about preparing kids for the future.

1. Keep Priorities straight as the architectural program is written

2. Integrate the instructional, technology and facilities staff directly into the conceptual design process

3. Sustain the Vision

4. A new role for Architects-Change agent