from 'Settings for Learning…a stimulating delight' - Philip Idle

I have recently had the great pleasure of visiting Northern Beaches Christian School(NBCS) in Terrey Hills, a northern suburb of Sydney. Under the visionary leadership of Stephen Harris, the change management over the last 6 years has seen an incredible transformation take place in the pedagogic, virtual and physical spaces at the Sydney Centre for Innovation in Learning (SCIL), the research based organisation playing out its mission at NBCS.  Walking through the school was a refreshing experience full of amazing settings for learning where children of all age groups are engaged, confident with their place and enjoying collaborating with each other.

It’s about integration and opportunity in providing different settings for learning – integration of ubiquitous technology, a myriad of furniture designs focused on various groupings, opportunities for clever design solutions that turn a staircase into a place of creativity, a wall surface into a seamless whiteboard, and a feeling of calm interaction between staff and students. I would challenge everyone with a passion for understanding successful learning environments to visit the school or study the publications or browse the web resources available on this amazing example of a truly 21^st century learning environment.

It is wonderful to be stimulated by such a rich experience in visiting Northern Beaches Christian School!

Read the full article in:

http://nvision3.com.au/blog/settings-for-learning-a-stimulating-delight/

The circle lounge - a really successful innovation. 12 segments. 1 class. Students love it. It can be reconstructed in seconds to form multiple groups, rather than the whole group. Why shouldn’t classroom furniture look different?

The circle lounge was our answer to creating something fresh for one part of the Zone (Years 5 & 6 learning space). UFM Solutions @daviegordon helped turn our thinking into reality. The challenge - create furniture that can within seconds transform a space into ‘campfire’ conversation mode (whole group focus time), then just as readily be used to become multiple ‘watering holes’ (small group work) and if needed, quiet ‘cave’ space (independent learning). It works brilliantly. We’re about to add some table trays that will sit on the back of the inner circle, providing writing or mobile device space for those that prefer something on which to lean.

Furniture for the future

There are so many aspects of traditional ‘schooling’ that need re-examination. One of those is the place of desks and chairs in the 21st century classroom. People talk about needing to have furniture (desks and chairs) that have great ergonomics - but as many educators know, students won’t be sitting still in chairs for long and many students find confinement to a set chair and desk as something akin to being in prison.

This scenario creates a great opportunity to re-think what type of furniture could be used in learning spaces. Our experience is that the more a space “feels like their lounge room”, the more students will slide into learning mode as a natural action.

Some excellent resources to spur ‘future’ thinking:

http://www.futureofed.org/forecast/

http://blog.futureofed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020_forecast.pdf

The undercroft area for technology and applied studies learning space - what an outstanding opportunity for creative design play! Also, a few photos of the new sport facility above - thanks the the government’s BER economic stimulus package.

Design Challenge

Challenge: how to best use an unexpected space for design and technology classes; a space created when a sport’s hall (BER funded) was raised up a level?

Answer: create a team of thinkers who will inhabit the space and open their thinking to new thoughts - not by visiting other schools, but by visiting converted warehouses, office spaces stripped back to a ‘raw’ feel, a converted printery and converted railway yards.

Result: (a work in progress) some really creative thinking that will involve layers of acoustic control; highly flexible transparent space dividers; the ability to create learning spaces via the use of a ceiling-mounted track system; maintain high visibility so that the space does not lose its ‘spaciousness’ - would like to be able to “see” right through the space still; IDEA paint panels used as flexible whiteboards on tracks; saturation mobile technolgies; an interior timber balcony near the windows … and lots of anticipation … stay tuned … “watch this space”!!

Tomorrow’s School Today Photoset 3