21st Century Labs Vol. 3

As the summer progresses, and the labs become closer to being ready for student use... many questions seem to arise...

1) Regardless of the budget, is there a particular classroom design that has just proven most successful (in other districts)?

2) Is it just the "stuff" that makes the 21st Century Lab design "work"? Or, does the physical "layout" of the room make the most difference?

3) Does the redesign or newly designed lab increase morale and overall teacher attitude towards technology?

Where are we at with the particular schools I am following closely? All of the labs are currently waiting on the furniture and the "stuff" - whiteboards, document cameras, etc. etc.

These 21st century lab posts seem to be serving as a great foundation for the final project... the questions I ponder are questions I will answer in my research. The completed research will be in the form of a wiki which will basically showcase specific focus areas of 21st century lab designs in classrooms today. Wiki address forthcoming... stay tuned.

21st Century Lab: New Directions

Questions to ponder for this week? There are several as I jump into my research for effective, efficient, productive and successful 21st century lab designs....

1)How big of a role does budget actually play?

2)How long does it take, realistically, in planning a 21st century lab overhaul?

3)Do 21st century lab designs reflect general and overall interior design thought-processes?

21st Century Labs VOL. 1

Beginning today, I will begin to write various posts as I delve into my research and study of 21st Century lab design for my internship.

Professional Development Goals:

- Determine how layout and design of 21st Century labs impacts learning

- Determine types of technology needed for successfully outfitting modern-day labs

- Determine how different types of classroom/lab environments impact learning today

Proposed Outcomes:

- Research can provide direction for proposals within current labs that are being revitalized or newly constructed

- Research can provide insight for schools considering no cost and/or cost-effective room revisions/updates

Overall, I plan to use three-four schools that are within our district whom have already identified necessary changes and/or upgrades to their existing or new construction computer labs. Based on the space requirements, budget and goals of the school, I hope to do research that gains/gives a better understanding of direction(s) these schools can move toward. 

 

I believe it is very interesting, impacting and substantive to look at how actual environments change the atmosphere of a space. I want to carry this interest into an educational sector by looking at lab design and the possible effects it has on student achievement.

 

Within two of the spaces, I want to provide (theoretical) no cost and/or cost-effective ways that technology can be maximized in each space - solely dependent upon the individual schools' needs.

With the use of this blog, a wiki for my research and a final presentation, my internship will prove to be a mixture of documenting the progress/process within our district along with "theory" based on my personal research.