is the classroom still relevant in an elearning environment?

IS THE CLASSROOM STILL RELEVANT IN AN E-LEARNING ERA?

Andrew Tidswell SA Chapter President

Council of Educational Facility Planners International

CEGSA CONFERENCEJuly 2010Australian Science & Mathematics School

100 years ago +

50 years ago

School designSpot the difference

1880

1980

2010

Inner West new school

Learning Environments• The nature of learning

environments has not changed significantly since the 19th century

• Schools are still formal and regimented in their design

• Basically rows of classrooms and other support spaces

• Focussed on a class with a teacher out the fronther out the front

Changing Pedagogy

• From teacher directed to learner centred• Constructivist project based learning• Collaboration and co-operation• Learning in a context of life experiences

• New ICT and wide ranging access to it

What does this mean to the teaching and learning environment?

• Constructivist project based learning

• Collaboration and co-operation• Accessibility of technology• Learning in a context of life

experiences• Opportunities to explore ideas-

not answering set questions• Group collaboration & learning• Creating an environment where

students build on their own knowledge

• Rethinking the role of the teacher

We are still in the Henry Ford production line model of education

The Council for Educational Facility

Planners International (CEFPI) • International organisation

dedicated to the provision of exemplary learning environments for students

• Brings together educators and architects/planners in a unique partnership

• Australasia Region the fastest growing region in the world

• Developing strategic alliances with organisations that have similar goals of improved learning outcomes

CEFPI Australasia Conference Perth May 2010The Mayfield ProjectInvestigations into the school learning environment

The ubiquitousness of ICT

2010• PC• Mac• Internet• E-mail• Mobile phone• MP3 player• iPhone• Laptop • Notebook• PC• iPad• X-Box• Wii• Smart boards• Kindle• etc

1980

• IBM PC• Apple macintosh

The ubiquitousness of ICT 2040• ?• ?• ?• ?• ?• ?• ?• ?• ?• ?• ?

Computers were going to make schools obsolete

Young people integrate new technologies into all aspects of their everyday life.

Students are connected to each other and the world all the time on networks that cannot be controlled by teachers or parents.

Why are we insisting on filling students heads with bits of information that they can insytantly get on Google?

How can we make school learning relevant in this environment?

AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS SCHOOLMODEL ICT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

PLANNING AND DESIGN BRIEF

ICT DRIVERS• Student home base

ICT workstation• ICT rich environment

facilitating learning anywhere, anytime

• Connection to global community

• Technology to provide meaningful & relevant learning experiences

• Ability to keep ICT at leading edge

AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS SCHOOLMODEL ICT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Is the classroom obsolete?Traditionally ICT has been introduced into standard classrooms.Is there a better physical environment for good e-learning to occur?

Is the classroom obsolete?• Is the classroom hindering good teaching & learning?• If you could do one thing to make it better what would it be?• Is the ASMS a good model?

School community like a town community

Is the classroom obsolete?

Do we need traditional classrooms or should we just have a range of other types of spaces and facilities?

What types of spaces?

How is flexibility provided?

Is the classroom obsolete?

CEFPI Australasia 2010 national award winning schools

Dandenong High School Vic


Australian Technical College Sunshine Vic


St Frances de Salle Primary SchoolVic


Bond University Qld


NAB Learning Academy Vic

What can we do with existing schools?

The reality is we will retain most existing schools for decades to comeWhat can we do to make them more learner appropriate?


• Break up the boxes / take out some walls• Access to variety of spaces• Flexibility in design and use• Learner centred focus

Where to from here?

More of the same is not appropriate any more

The learning needs must drive the ICT and the design of the physical environment

Learners will make choices as to where and how they learn best. They do this at home. Schools should provide the same opportunities.

What does this mean for the provision of new schools, the redevelopment of existing schools and the use of ICT in learning environments?

ICT Considerations for schools• What are we trying to teach and learn• Consider the future, not the past nor even the present• Pervasiveness of ICT• The ways young people use technologies• The ways young people learn• Personalised individual learning & group collaborative learning• Integration of technologies into the learning• Technologies available and how quickly they change (superceded)• Wired and wireless networks• Consolidation or dispersal of equipment• Ownership • Storage• Building issues (daylight, glare, power supply, security, furniture)• Flexibility• Physical and virtual learning environments

The physical environment must encourage good learning, creativity, enjoyment and fun