Designing the School around the Student

By: Bridget McCrea

Summary• In 2008 a 22 person team began the task of developing a new high school for the South

Washington County Schools, Independent School District 833 in Woodbury, MN. This effort was to rethink the traditional structures of the high school down. The purpose was to build the school around the use of technology.

• The team had to figure out how they wanted the teaching to be delivered to the students. They decided that technology should be fully integrated into all areas of teaching. All of these basic decisions brought about changes to the schools designs.

• The school wasn’t built by the traditional model of “stacked rectangular classrooms and linear hallways on top of one another.” They turned to a more pod like design with focal areas that are called “learning resource centers,” or LRC. These LRC areas are designed as a common area where students can come together and collaborate on projects. – LRC are conference rooms / labs filled with computers, wireless internet access, projectors, and smart-board. They

also contain flexible furniture, that can be rearranged for the needs of the teacher, students, or project planning and execution.

• This new concept of design didn’t extend to every area of the school but only to areas that benefited. Areas like the performing arts wings continued with the more traditional model.

• The last area of change was with how they approached teacher instruction. The traditional method of a teacher having their own classroom had been changed. They wanted the teachers to go to the students. This caused problems as the classes had to be able to support more then one teacher with supplies for both.

Reflection• I found the decision to rethink how a school should actually be built to be

refreshing. This makes me believe that as technology continues to integrate into not only our personal lives but also our educational system that we are willing to change our methods. The idea of creating an environment that is similar to the corporate world gives credence that we are working to prepare students for the future. Providing the needed materials, resources, and supports for students to work in collaboration is key for our success not only in education but in life. The designing of this school feels to me to be the ideal way in which to teach what these students will be encountering in their lives.

Reference

• McCrea, B. (2012, February 22). Designing the School Around the Student. Retrieved April 5, 2012, from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2012/02/22/Designing-the-School-Around-the-Student.aspx?admgarea=pre&Page=1