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.