Research Presentation 2023

• Research
• Year 2

Research Presentation  

-May 2023-

Redesigning 

Learning Spaces

 K-12  

Change is coming...

"Education has traditionally relied on teacher-centric approaches where lectures were the main source for knowledge transference. Today, student-centric pedagogies are being embraced to better prepare learners for future workforce & new approaches to classroom design are supporting this shift." 

(Adams, Becker S., et al. 2016, NMC/CoSN Horizon Report: K-12 Edition p.8)

Investing money, time and resources into updating school buildings K-12 is a worthwhile investment with promising returns.

More interest in updating learning environments. 

• Areas support students & their learning.
• Spaces are organized with purpose.
• Quiet collection/reflection-carpet & independent space
• Sharing information & collaborating
• Team teaching or large groups
• Wired and wireless zones for technology

Do you feel many local school buildings are in need of rehabilitation with physical structures, HVAC systems and technology upgrades?

😒🙁😐🙂😃

Who can & cannot afford these upgrades? Changes affect:

• School communities 
• More affluent communities

• Lower income communities
• Less socioeconomic communities

$128 million 

Current Board Approval for renovations to the 67-year-old 

High School Building built in 1956

The key players with deciding powers lie in the local district administration and school board member approval. 

Many school buildings in America today are on the verge of extinction. Other countries are addressing this issue by...

• conducting research on design types & pedagogical practices that are willing to shift to accommodate new learning styles with dismal infrastructures that are in desperate need of upgrading. 

• focusing on how students with disabilities need consideration when updating school structures -many are lacking physical modifications for accessing safe means for disabled students (Ghanian Inclusive schools).

Dramatic Infrastructure Reform is needed in 

America's Education System

Federal/State/Local Government Involvement

 Long-term Prospects of 

the Crisis

All buildings deteriorate with age:

Asbestos

Lead in drinking fountains & faucets

Leaky rooves & pipes 

Poorly insulated, no air conditioning

Window & HVAC upgrades

Add modern luxuries

President Joe Biden's Infrastructure Plan

Proposed to invest over $100 billion dollars in American school infrastructure maintenance & upgrades

 -Part of a $2 trillion spending package- 

Plans:

$50 billion in infrastructure grants

$50 billion infrastructure bonds

$45 billion eliminating lead pipes

$100 billion adding service lines for broadband access

(Lieberman, 2021)

What Teachers & Students Need

"America has 100,000 public schools that house more than 50 million students & educators. 

So many are poorly equipped or in poor physical condition they undermine student learning."

(Menas, 20021, "We Need to Fix School Buildings Now")

Teachers & Students Care About Their 

Learning Environment, Blog of Harvard Education finds

• Traditional "Cells & Bells" versus Learning Community Model limits student engagement
• One teacher services many, multiple teachers can service more
• Interdisciplinary curriculum focus brings different subjects together
•  Teachers can advise & guide students as individuals/teams
• More time to mentor
• Peering tutoring-encourage & help facilitate it
• More hands-on & practical learning

New Building Designs Should Include:

• Active Learning Spaces for Movement & Interaction 
• Erasing the lines between teacher & students 
• Assessing For Understanding
• Digital Tools for Visual Thinking
• Classroom/Open Space Designs for Integrated Learning
• Pedagogical Options for Instructors

(Rands, M. L., & Gansemer-Topf, A. M. 2017).

Innovative Learning Environments Need

• More literature on methods to evaluate relationships between learning spaces & student learning.

• More evidence on how teachers are supported in their use of space.
• More researchers looking for evidence for best ways to support teachers.  (Trask, S., & Khoo, E., 2021).

 Students Need

Makerspaces in locations like libraries to encourage STEM and creative thinking/problem solving. Students are

• critical thinkers
• problems solvers
• makers/creators
• developing digital technology competencies

(Trask, S., & Khoo, E., 2021).

Horizon Report 2016

Redesigning Learning Spaces

Rethinking How Schools Work

Collaborative Learning

Deeper Learning Approaches

Fascinating Facts!

• University of WA-adjustments to classroom lighting, temperature & decoration affect academic performance. 
• University of Melbourne-Student achievement increases 15% when transitioning from traditional to redesigned spaces focusing of pedagogy & layout of flexible learning environments.    
• Researchers observe 48% more discussion, 22% less lecturing in active learning space. Green schools use 33% less energy & 32% less water than traditional.  Implement green standards, $20 billion in energy costs could be saved in ten years. 
• LEaRN, international educational forum, focuses on three multidisciplinary frameworks for learning spaces: inspire designs for connections of curriculum, pedagogy & physical & virtual spaces. (Adams, Becker S., et al. 2016, NMC/CoSN Horizon Report: K-12 Edition p.8-9).

Pedagogical Practices Shift...

• Away from teacher to student directed: better meets the needs of the 21st century learners giving flexibility, opportunity for collaboration & technology integration. 

• Exemplar models-Teachers in Peru participate in rigorous training to implement active & project-based pedagogies.

• From passive to active, encourages creative problem solving & actively implementing solutions. (Adams, Becker S., et al. 2016, NMC/CoSN Horizon Report: K-12 Edition p.9,14).

Three-Year Study conducted by 

The Education Policy Center at Amercian Institutes for Research 

Found that schools who 

• shared explicit school wide priorities
• providing deeper learning strategies such as project-based learning, collaborative group work & internships  
• used long-term assessments like portfolios all produced higher academic scores, strong interpersonal skills higher grad rates & enrollment in four-year colleges regardless of students' backgrounds.   (Adams, Becker S., et al. 2016, NMC/CoSN Horizon Report: K-12 Edition p.14).

In conclusion

Redesigning learning spaces greatly benefits students when it comes to improving engagement & learning outcomes. 

Positive student results can justify the resources needed to fund these rebuilding, redesigning projects & updating safety features in these important learning spaces. 

Do you feel the money, time and potential problems for rebuilding is worth it for future students?

Yes

No

Unsure

References

Leijon, M., Nordmo, I., Tieva, A., & Troelsen, R. (2022, April 30). Formal learning spaces in Higher Education-a systematic review. Teaching in Higher Education, Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.108013562517.2022.2066469. 

Trask, S., &  Khoo, E. (2021, June 15). Introduction to Special Issue on Learning Environments Research Innovations: Policy, Practice, Philosophies. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 56(1) 5–10. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.1007/s40841-021-00209-0.  

Ackah-Jnr, F. R., & Danso, J. B. (2018, January 24). Examining the physical environment of Ghanaian inclusive schools: how accessible, suitable and appropriate is such environment for inclusive education? International Journal of Inclusive

Education, 23(2). 188-208, www.tandfonline.com/loi/tied20. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2018.1427808. 

Rands, M. L., & Gansemer-Topf, A. M. (2017). The Room Itself Is Active: How Classroom Design Impacts Student Engagement. Journal of Learning Spaces, 6(1).

References

Nair, P. (2020, August, 6). School Building-The Last Domino: It's Time for Learning Spaces to Catch Up. 

The Blog of Harvard Education Publishing. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.hepg.org/blog/school-buildings-%E2%80%93-the-last-domino-it%E2%80%99s-time-for-l

 Adams, Becker S., et al. (2016) NMC/CoSN Horizon Report: K-12 Edition p.8-15

Lieberman, M. (2021, April 27). The Dismal State of School Infrastructure, in Charts Education Week https://www.edweek.org/leadership/the-dismal-state-of-school-infrastructure-in-charts/2021/04

Menas, A. (2021 May 21). We Need to Fix School Buildings Now, Educators Tell Congress. NEA News https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/we-need-fix-school-buildings-now-educators-tell-congress