Archive | November 2016

Form Follows Function

There are times when function can naturally follow form. When I walk into the classroompreschool-still-life-painting-classs of young students I often observe children creating; building, painting, sculpting…. I ask them to tell me about their work. I sometimes observe them looking their creation over….pausing and, depending on what they observe, decide in that moment what their creation is destined to be. This, and the dialogue that follows, are valuable moments in inquiry learning. Although function can follow form with ease in an inquiry-based learning environment, form should follow function and students should become the driver when redesigning spaces for learning.
As a classroom teacher, although I took pride in collaboratively creating an inviting learning space with my students, I admittedly saw the physical space within the classroom as somewhat static and rarely considered the possibilities beyond reorganizing desks and using the walls to share artifacts of our learning.
Form following function is requires a commitment to recognizing that students learn in different

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One of many different configurations a teacher could use.

ways and learning spaces need to reflect this. Learning environments should provide flexible spaces for collaboration, innovation, creativity, focused learning, and communication. By designing spaces with these skills in mind we set students up to be successful for the future world in which they can thrive.

I had a recent opportunity collaborate with a Learning Supervisor colleague and two Mental Health TOSA’s in our school board. Here are some of the questions we used to inform our dialogue about learning spaces:

  • What are the goals for learning and does the layout of your classroom facilitate meeting these goals?
  • Do you have predictable spaces for calming or spaces where students can access visual schedules and materials with ease?
  • Are there varied learning spaces for collaboration, independent work, inquiry, and communication?
  • Is your furniture agile and/or easy to reconfigure?
  • What alternative seating do you have for students who fidget, wiggle, and need to stretch or like to stand?
  • Can you alternate the amount of lighting in your space for activities conducive to brighter lights, warmer lights or reduced lighting?
  • What storage solutions do you have to reduce the clutter in your room and allow for ease of movement and increased sightlines?The truth is children can learn in the most unlikely of spaces but imagine the opportunities for learning when we provide them a space designed to unleash limitless potential. What one thing can you, right now with your physical space to support this potential in all your students?

edutopia-wade-visualizing21stcclassrmdesign

Visualizing 21st-Century Classroom Design  (acknowledgements – @mary_teaching)

Also go back and read one of my blogs from March 2016 – Rear View Camera