Design Principles and Theory
A collection of resources that outline principles, parameters, or factors to consider when designing classrooms and schools to support a 21st century education. Updated December 13, 2012
This article by Jonah Lehrer describes what factors best promote group creativity. The second half of the article focuses on examples of building design (or lack thereof) promote interaction and creativity. Examples cited include MIT's Building 20 and the Pixar headquarters.
This PDF document presents pedagogical considerations, design principles, a design palette, and several design examples for schools. Draws on international UK, Australian examples. The document has a highly visual presentation of its data. Recommended.
This book is an excellent primer for the layperson on contemporary thinking about school design. Available from David for loan within the SSFS community.
2002 Technos Quarterly article by Bob Pearlman about how modern high schools need to change to address the failures of the past, both in student experience and in facilities design. Refers to three example public schools. Article focuses mostly on public school issues and solutions but presents a thought-provoking case for moving away from factory production models for high school.
Stephen Heppell's personal, quirky, and eclectic collection of examples and resources that he describes as a "primer for anyone exploring [school] design issues." Lots and lots of international examples of very different approaches to school design, grounded in different assumptions about learning and teaching. A rich resource.
Architect Peter Gisolfi seeks to answer the question "Does the buildng convey a sense of isolation and separateness or does it foster communal behavior?" in this feature article from the Spring 2012 issue of Learning By Design.
Three models for classrooms as "learning studios" are presented in this article from Edutopia magazine: "A team of architects who specialise in learning spaces want to let Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, and Jamie Oliver show you the future of classroom design."
This Education Week essay by architect and school design consultant Prakash Nair asserts that we cannot truly progress in education unless we remake the classroom itself: "As the primary place for student learning, the classroom does not withstand the scrutiny of scientific research... we still think
that yesterday’s classroom equals tomorrow’s school."
An outline of the "Open Classroom" movement in the 1970's in the United States by Larry Cuban from Stanford University. The author places this educational movement in historical context and outlines some claims for its relevance to today's debates about teaching and schools.
Design - Practical Considerations
Resources related to actual physical construction, materials, or other pragmatic or physical considerations.
Patrick Bassett, head of the National Association of Independent Schools shares eleven considerations for independent school facilities in the 21st century. A rare independent school perspective, dating from 2002.
Article from Campus Technology magazine outlines seven practical considerations for during the design process. Focused on university level facilities but relevant to K-12.
Brief article from "the Journal," a technology in education e-magazine. Outlines six design elements to consider when designing school facilities.
Brief article from the journal of the OECD Centre for Effective Learning Environments. It outlines four basic design types for modern school design: courtyard plan, block plan, cluster plan, and town-like plan, and a very brief analysis of each.
Ten ideas from architectural firms related to designing school public school facilities for the 21st century. A general article of considerations and possible directions, based on changing models of education and teaching.
This 1954 treatise on state-of-the-art school design was written/edited by architect William W. Caudill. It provides an interesting reflection on what we have and have not learned about teaching and school design over the past 60 years.
From the Spring 2011 issue of Learning By Design, Archtect Peter Lippman outlines some strategies for connecting the school design process to the needs of students and the school. Includes brief case studies.
Library Design
Resources regarding the nature of a library, and library design, for the future
Brief article by Margaret Sullivan, sharing some wisdom about modern library design from the NYC project in partnership with the Robin Hood Foundation.
An article that presents a discussion with two national library experts about the future of school libraries in the information age. Explored: the role of books, the purpose of a school library, forward-looking design features and exemplary projects.
This article outlines the skills and activities of 21st century learners that should drive the design of contemporary school libraries as "learning laboratories."
The Libraries Initiative, co-sponsored by the Robin Hood foundation and the NYC Board of Education, sought to redesign public school libraries to better serve the needs of the City's students. Online version of article from the Architectural Record.
Arts, Science Instructional Spaces
Resources that outline design considerations or principles for Arts and Science spaces.
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A list of resources related to best designs and design principles for 21st century classrooms and schools, with a bias towards high schools. This list is developed as a support to the design and oversight process for Sandy Spring Friends School by David Hickson, Assistant Head of School for Acade...
Updated on Aug 19, 13
Created on Nov 09, 12
Category: Schools & Education
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