Blog Task 1 – Assessment

 

Click on the image above to see the learning space in action during audit.

The Learning Space – The space is currently being used as a Science room for primary aged students (predominantly in early years Prep-Year 2). This space is located in the main building of a public private partnerships (PPP) school in an open learning area. It was intended to be a learning area for either a classroom or a specialist class and is located in an area that is always ‘on show’. As a Science room, the space provides some issues for effective teaching and learning due to location, noise, furniture placement and distractions. Although the intention of the space is for a flexible learning environment, lessons currently taught in this space does not utilise and necessarily suit the area.

Re-designing Spaces – While open-plan work spaces help students collaborate, they can also be disruptive when it comes to students trying to focus on individual learning tasks.(Haydar, The Educator 2015) The space I chose to audit has been designed with the idea that open planned learning spaces provide flexible and multi functional facilities to best support student learning and development. This although accurate in some respects, does not necessarily work for the type of learning that occurs on a daily basis at this particular primary school.

With the development of the building and theories behind what facilitates modern day and cutting edge learning, how many of these accounts rely on a dualism between thinking and knowing, and acting in the world (Kimbell, 2015. p285). For this example, real world teaching and learning in this space provides many distractions and noises that could be minimised with simple redesign, for example; placement of doors, walls, toilets, storage and furniture.

Re-designing the learning space physically (such as walls and doors) could assist with reducing foot traffic and noise distractions however this room also can also be improved through further development and creative design from the staff working in the area. With creative and flexible ideas, the space could be manipulated, zoned and developed to support different styles of learning and minimise noise disruption.  “Design is what links creativity and innovation. It shapes ideas to become practical and attractive propositions for users or customers. Design may be described as creativity deployed to a specific end.” (Temple, 2010)

Activities and tasks set by teachers specifically to compliment the space can also assist in lesson outcomes and student engagement, student expectations and agreed decorum while moving through the walkways also provide strategies for managing open learning spaces.

Suggested Improvements – A space such as this can benefit from three main considerations, Structural design; designers could actually teach and work in the environment in order to experience any difficulties that may arise due to space design. Fittings and furnishings; consideration of height of furniture, shape and style and storage and display options and finally teaching styles.

Structural suggestions –

  • reconsider the location of the toilets and the walkway/thoroughfare.
  • develop sub walls for zoning and display areas.

Fittings and Furnishings –

  • Change the height and shape of the tables so that they can be moved and changed to suit group and independent work. The current tables are quite static and chairs are at a height for older students.
  • Set up different learning spaces, floor spaces, hands on exploration spaces, display spaces in the learning area
  • Using the available space within budget constraints and within the general logistics of the school. No matter where you focus design thinking, a constant inspiring constraint is “doing more with less” and recognizing the interwoven nature of the economy and the environment. (Change by design, Brown p5)

Teaching Styles –

  • Staff to consider their teaching styles and delivery strategies when working in this open learning space. This will enable students to work with staff in the open space which does not necessarily lend itself to typical traditional teaching in a room with four walls. Having observed teachers who “did nothing to change their teaching and communication style” could make working in an open classroom “almost impossible for their colleagues and the students alike”.(Podbury, The Educator 2015)

References –

https://education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Primary-Secondary/Property/Initiatives/WhatisaPPPFactSheet.pdf

http://www.educatoronline.com.au/news/do-open-plan-classrooms-really-benefit-learning-207098.aspx

file:///C:/Users/08769660/Downloads/change-by-design-brown-e.pdf