Designing the Structures that Make Modern Learning Possible:
Schedules, Learning Spaces, Student Grouping Patterns, and Personnel Configurations
Date: October 26, 2017- Thursday
Time: 8:30 AM- 3:00 PM
Essential Question: How can we prepare our learners for the future?
How can we design program structures that make contemporary learning possibilities a reality?
Who should attend: Key administrators involved with structural decisions; Members of any existing design task force, teachers, community members
Focus: Our session will examine expanding the options for each of the four structures that make programs possible: schedules, learning spaces, student grouping, and personnel configurations. What is more we will look at the relationship between these four structures and how to research and develop plans tailored to the specific student population in your school setting. We will examine stunning photographs of new building designs, blueprints, and furniture design including maker-spaces, new library-media repurposing, and outdoor facilities. This session will build on the work from our first session by considering the critical role of Innovation Design Teams to research and develop program structure an action plan. Some of our specific focus areas will be:
- Learning Spaces- physical spaces, architectural plans, remodeling and repurposing existing spaces
- Examining current furniture design and choices based on student interaction and concentration
- Making use of the actual physical location and property of the school site and the resident community
- Interacting on live video conference with international architect, Prakash Nair
- Conducting virtual tours of school spaces
- Analyzing virtual learning spaces- considering the range of options and criteria for quality selection
- Juggling the reality of budget demands
- Wrestling with scheduling considerations- long term/ short term/ time as currency- working within restrictions- breaking through barriers
- Employing scheduling as currency with instructional template for planning and re-grouping
- Considering grouping patterns for learners– non-graded/ multi-age grouping; by interest; examine international practices
- Critically reviewing the role of interfacing scheduling with Personalized Learning groups and solo work
- Considering grouping personnel configurations – beyond departments; multiple affiliations; talent versus role based instruction; cyber faculty participation
Deliverables: Creating a draft for conducting research with possible site visits to support the investigation within the Consortium and beyond.
An analysis of where your school is currently on a Program Restructuring Continuum.
Creating a draft for an action plan to develop new program structures with roles for key school and community members.