attractiveletthesunshinein

"Therearethreeteachersofchildren:adults,otherchildren,andtheirphysicalenvironment.
"–LorisMalaguzziTheenvironmentisTheThirdTeacher.
EveryonecanbeadesignerLooktomanysourcesfordesigninspiration.
Teachersandstudents,aswellasarchitectsanddesigners,haveideasabouttheirideallearningenvironment.
DonoharmAdoptthisasanoathandafundamentalapproachtochildren'slearningenvironments.
Cherishchildren'sspacesIt'sanaturalimpulsetonurtureouryoung–letthatimpulseextendtotheplaceswhereyoungpeoplelearn.
PutsafetybeforestudyChildrenarereadytolearnonlywhenthey'resafeandsecure,soaddressthoseneedsbeforeconsideringanyotheraspectofachild'senvironment.
ThinksmallWhenidentifyinghazardsinthelearningenvironment,rememberthatchildrenaremorephysicallyvulnerablethanadults.
AssignthesolutionMakehealthandsafetyaclassroomprojectanddeveloplessonplansthatwillproducerealimprovementstothelearningenvironment.
MakejanitorsguardiansSchoolcustodiansandcaretakersplayavitalroleinprotectingstudenthealth.
Respectthatrolebyprovidingcleaningstaffwiththebestavailabletraining,technology,andsupplies.
DesignforspeechandhearingAcousticsisn'tjustforconcerthalls:Usingsound-absorbentmaterialsinclassroomsisasimpleandeffectivewaytoensurethatteacherscanfocusonteaching,notrepeating.
LetthesunshineinAndthegrayskiestoo:Increasingdaylightinclassroomshasbeenshowntocutdownonabsenteeismandimprovetestscores.
ShufflethedeckChangeupthelocationsofregularactivitiessochildrencanexplorenewsurroundingswiththeirbodiesandtheirminds.
MakeitnewLookatyourlearningspacewith21st-centuryeyes:Doesitworkforwhatweknowaboutlearningtoday,orjustforwhatweknewaboutlearninginthepastSupportgreatteachersFreeteachersfromthetraditionaldeskatthefrontoftheclassroomandencouragenewsettingsforteachingandlearning.
BuildneuralnetworksSparkcognitivedevelopmentbyprovidingstudentsofallageswithplacestotestnewskills.
MultiplyintelligencesAllowstudentstimeandspacetochoosewhattheywanttodo–theirchoiceswillilluminatetheirindividualstrengths.
DisplaylearningPostingstudentwork,bothcurrentandpast,uponthewallstracksprogressinavisibleway.
EmulatemuseumsAnenvironmentrichinevocativeobjects–whetherit'saclassroomoramuseum–triggersactivelearningbylettingstudentspickwhattoengagewith.
FormfollowsfunctionItseemsobviousbutisoftenforgotten:Teachingandlearningshouldshapethebuilding,notviceversa.
UnitethedisciplinesArtandscienceneedeachother.
Discoveries–greatandsmall–happenwhenthetwocometogether;sogivestudentsplacesforcross-disciplinarywork,andwhoknowswhatcreativegeniuswillflourish.
BringtheoutsideinTransportthecommunity,thelandscape,andfarawayplacesintotheclassroomwithvisualsandobjectsthatcallthemtomind.
MakepeacewithfidgetingThinkofitasbraindevelopment,whichitis.
Thenthinkofhowtomakeroomforitintheclassroom.
DecideondynamicWhenclassroomchairswearout,investinnewonesthatabsorbratherthanrestrictthemovementsofgrowingbodies.
SwiveltoattentionGivestudentsfurniturethatletsthemtwistandleansafely.
Themovementwillincreasetheirabilitytoconcentrate.
MakeclassroomsagileAlearningspacethatcanbereconfiguredonadimewillengagedifferentkindsoflearnersandteachers.
RespectfitnessfacilitiesMakethemattractiveandvisibletoreinforcetheconnectionbetweenphysicalactivityandoverallwell-being.
Takethe"ground"outof"playground"WhosaidplaygroundshadtobeatgroundlevelLocateplayspaceanywhereandeverywhere,fromrooftopterracestoindooratriums.
PromotehealthyplayConsiderplaygroundsafreeplaceforchildrentoburncaloriesaswellasbuildmotorskills.
NaturalizeplayspacesKidsdon'tneedmuchtoengagetheirimaginations.
Allowinggrassandleafyplantstoflourishinplayspaceswillprovideendlessopportunitiesforplayanddiscovery.
ScalethewallClimbingbuildskids'motorskillsandself-confidence,sodon'tbeafraidtoinstallwallsandstructurestheycanclamberup.
FreechoiceLifeisfullofchoices.
Preparekidsbygivingthemasayatschool.
BuildclosetohomeAllchildrenhavearighttoaschoolintheirownneighborhood.
LetyourgrassrootsshowTorallysupportforanewschool,establishavisiblepresenceforthecampaigninyourcommunity.
BuildforchangeSchoolbuildingscanbetoolsforsocialchange,andhistory'stheproof.
Takecourageandinspirationfromwhat'sbeendonebefore.
MoveintogetherBuildinganewschoolisanopportunitytomakefriendswithothercommunityservices,suchaslibrariesandrecreationalfacilities,andperhapsevenmakeanewhometogetheronasinglecampus.
ImaginelikeachildVisualizeaproposedschoolfromastudent'sperspective–thepoignancyofthatpointofviewmayhelptransformaproposalintoabuiltproject.
ConsultwidelyandearlyThoseheadinguptheplanningprocessforanewschoolwillgetoffontherightfootbyinvitingeverypotentialuserandstakeholderintotheprocessrightfromthestart.
RollupyoursleevesAnewschoolwillberealizedfasterifparentspitchintomakeithappen.
BlazethewaySchoolcanstartatastudent'sfrontdoor,ifthecommuteisdesignedaswellasthebuilding.
Walkingpathsandbicycletrailsconnectaschoolwiththehomesitserves.
MakethemproudTherichculturaltraditionsofaschool'sstudentsofferdesignopportunities.
Embracingthemisamarkofrespectthattellsstudentsthatwheretheycomefrommattersasmuchaswherethey'regoingto.
BeagoodneighborAgreatschoolgivesitsneighborsaparktohangoutin,agoaltoaspireto,abuildingtobeproudof,andastandardtomaintain.
BuildanestChildrenneedcomfortjustasmuchatschoolastheydoathome.
Givethemasoft,quiet,andcozyareatoplayinbythemselvesorwithafewfriends.
LeapfrogLEEDThinkoftoday'stopratingforenvironmentalschooldesignastomorrow'slast-placerating,anddesigntobebetterthanthecurrentbestpractices.
RevealhowstuffworksMakingschoolinfrastructureliterallytransparent,todisplaytheflowsofwaterandwaste,teacheskidstheworkingsoftherealworld.
Geteco-educatedBeforeembarkingonaprogramtogreenaschool,learnaboutwhatcountsthemostandwhatworksthebest.
HighlightthesiteEveryschoolislocatedinaparticularplacewithitsownuniquegeologicalfeaturesandnaturalhistory.
Callattentiontoaschool'ssitewithdesign,construction,andsignage.
AttractlikemindsAsustainableschoolbuildingisabillboardforaschool'svaluesandphilosophy–itbroadcaststhemessagetocompatibleparents,students,andstaff.
LetstudentsleadHands-onexperienceisapowerfulteacher.
Encouragestudentswhowanttoconverttheirschooltosustainablepractices,andletthemgoforit.
RallytheresultsIncreasingly,themetricsareoutthereonthefinancialbenefitsofgoinggreen.
Usethenumberstomakethecaseforanenergyefficientschool.
DoyourhomeworkManyfamiliesaretryingtoshifttomoresustainablehabits.
Aligningtheschool'sgoalswiththoseofthefamiliesitservescreatesawidecommunityofsupportforasustainableschool.
GetoutofthecityCreatingplaceswherechildrencanbeimmersedinthenaturalworldfordaysorweeksaffordslearningopportunitiesthatcan'tbereplicatedintheconcretejungle.
SlowthepaceAlcovesandfurnitureinhallwaysdiscouragehigh-speedtrafficandcreateplacesofpause.
MakecatererscaretakersConsiderthepeoplewhoprepareschoolmeals,andtheplaceswherethosemealsarepreparedandserved,criticaltochildren'swell-being–andhireanddesignaccordingly.
Spendnow,savelaterEquippingschoolkitchensandmakingwholesomelunchescanbecostly,butthelifelonghealthimpactsofapoorchildhooddietareevenmoreexpensive.
GrowyourownGrowingandpreparingfruitandvegetablesonschoolgroundseducateschildren'ssensesoftaste,touch,andsmell.
Thinkhands-onChildrenofallagesneedplaceswheretheycanlearnbytouching,manipulating,andmakingthingswiththeirhands.
TriggerthesensesSound,smell,taste,touch,andmovementpowermemory.
Anenvironmentrichinsensoryexperienceshelpsstudentsretainandretrievewhattheylearn.
DesigninmultipledimensionsEvaluateideas,features,andmaterialsforthelearningenvironmentontheirsensitivitytocolor,light,andtexture.
PaintbyfunctionDeterminewhateachspaceinaschoolisusedfor,thenspecifyapaintcolorthatsupportsthemoodofthespace.
DefinethelearninglandscapeAchild'sworldexpandsashedevelops.
Keeppacebyprovidingenvironmentalexperiencesthataredevelopmentallyappropriate.
SlipoffyourshoesCreatingalearningspacethat'ssafeandcomfortabletonavigateinsockedorslipperedfeetoffersanopportunitytouseaphysicalactthetakingoffofshoesasmentalpreparationforlearning.
OpenthedoorsGivestudentsplacestoexhibittheirworkasifitwereinapublicgallery,theninvitethepublictocomeandhavealook.
AdoptayoungmentorAllowsomeoneyoungerthanyoutobecomeyouradvisoronhopesanddreams,andletthoseaspirationsbecomeinspirationsforlearningenvironments.
PutthefuninfundamentalsInjectingalearningspacewithplayfulnessandhumorcreatesawarmandwelcomingatmosphere.
DesignwithwordsWhatyousayinfluenceswhatyouthinkandwhatyoudo.
Usethetermuniversaldesign,ratherthanaccessibledesign,asareminderofwhatit'sallabout:creatinganenvironmentforalllearners.
RecruitdifferenceThebrightestwaytoarriveatinventivesolutionsforapluralisticlearningenvironmentistobuilddiversityintothedesignteam.
GetaccessibilityawareThere'smoretoaccessibilitythanmeetstheeye.
Makingalearningenvironmenttrulyinclusivemeansdesigningfrommultipledevelopmentalperspectives.
BreakdownsocialbarriersTheprocess,aswellastheoutcome,ofbuildinganaccessibleplaygroundcanbridgeallsortsofcommunitydivides.
MakeitfeelgoodSchoolsthatareengaging,vibrant,greatplacestobefosterasenseofbelongingthat'simportantforallkids,especiallythoseatrisk.
TakeittothetopPoliticianscancreateaclimateofsupportfornewschoolsthatareaccessibletoalllearners.
LobbythemtothinkaboutGrossIntellectualProductaswellasGrossNationalProduct.
DomesticateclassroomsEquippinglearningspaceswithdomesticfeaturessuchaskitchens,pantries,andcupboardscanhelpmakeaschoolfeellikeahome.
CreateamovementEngageinmeaningfulconversationsaboutchangingtheeducationlandscape.
Parents,teachers,students,principals,communitymembers,andpoliticiansareallimportantandpowerfulstakeholdersinthismovement.
ConsultwithkidsSurveystudentsaboutwhattheywouldliketostudy,thendesignspacesthatletthemlearnwhattheywanttolearn.
PuttheoryintopracticeGivestudentsspace–studios,workshops,andlaboratories–wheretheycantestideasforpracticalapplications.
ExpandvirtuallyMakesureaclassroomhasthecapacitytolinkintolearningopportunitiesbeyonditsfourwallsevenbeyondtheEarthitself.
EmbracepurposeInstalltechnologythatcansimulatereal-worldsituations–giventhechancetosolveauthenticproblems,kidswillrisetothechallenge.
PlanfortheunknownNewtechnologybringswithitnewteachingopportunities–designalearningenvironmentthatwillallowteacherstomodifytheirmethodsandexpectationsastechnologychanges.
UnleashlearningElectroniclearningaidsaren'tfancywindowdressing:Theyofferteachersandstudentsnewanddiversewaystoengagewithsubjectsandideas.
BridgethedigitaldivideOnetestedwaytogetallstudents,regardlessoftheirsocioeconomicbackground,uptospeedtechnologicallyistogivethemlaptopsandaplacetobeunpluggedyetconnected.
DreambigandbebraveTherateoftechnologicaladvancementisincreasingexponentially.
Whendesigningschools,don'tlettoday'srealitylimittomorrow'spossibilities.
AddtothislistTheideasinthisbookareingredients,tobecombinedinvaryingquantitiesassuitsconditionsandtastes.
Thelistisbynomeansfinite.
Addtoit,adaptideas,grownewones,andtransformtheworld.