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2016-01-01T20:27:44Z

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=====Its all in a name?=====

Think about what you should call each subject or group of subjects. What will you call the spaces in which each of these are taught? Does it matter?

* Consider for example ''''Woodwork''' and '''Metalwork''' as opposed to '''Handicraft''' or '''[[Design and Technology]]'''; is '''Domestic Science''' the same as '''Home Economics''', '''Cooking''' or '''Food Technology'''? It is clear that the name does imply some aspects of the subjects being taught.
* Is a '''Studio''' the same as a '''Workshop''' and what would you expect to see in a '''Factory Floor'''? Does '''Learning Space''' suggest something more flexible than '''Classroom'''?
* Which subjects would you expect to combine in a '''Design Faculty''' as opposed to a '''Technology Faculty'''? Is '''Zone''' a more useful term than '''Faculty'''?

=====‘Cells and Bells’=====

If learning spaces are all the same shape and size perhaps they constrain too much the variety of teaching styles that can make learning fun?

* '''Traditional primary school classroom block'''

The illustration shows a traditional primary school classroom block. Each classroom is the same size, same shape and are aligned along a corridor.

[[File:EFEIprimary.jpg|400px|right]]
* do you know of any schools designed like this?
* what does it say about the basis on which classes are organised?
* could classes be organised differently - eg by ability reached, mixed ages or other ways?
* how easy would it be to combine classes for a topic, presentation or project?
* what does it say about the size of class in each year group?
* what does it say about the type of activities each year group do?
* do all activities require the same shape and size of space?

<div style="clear: both;"></div>
If the prompts above give you cause to question the effectiveness of this simple traditional arrangement, what would you do differently?

* '''Traditional secondary school teaching block'''

The illustration shows a traditional secondary school teaching block. Each classroom is the same size, same shape and are aligned along a corridor.

[[File:EFEIsecondary.jpg|400px|right]]
* do you know of any schools designed like this?
* what does it say about the basis on which subject groups are organised?
* how easy would it be to combine subject groups for a topic, presentation or project?
* what does it say about the group size for different subjects?
* what does it say about the type of activities each subject involves?
* do all activities require the same shape and size of space?

<div style="clear: both;"></div>
If the prompts above give you cause to question the effectiveness of this simple traditional arrangement, what would you do differently?

* '''Influence of spaces on teaching styles'''

The illustration shows a traditional classroom block. Each same size classroom is furnished with 24 pupil desks and chairs plus one teacher chair.

[[File:EFEIloaded2.jpg|400px|right]]
* does this limit the ways in which a teacher can interact with a class?
* is the number of ways the class can be set out restricted?
* are all subjects taught the same way?
* do all subjects need the same space?
* how easy would it be to organise group work for example?
* what would happen if more than one teacher was needed?
* how easy is it for teachers or pupils to move about?

<div style="clear: both;"></div>
If the prompts above give you cause to question the effectiveness of this simple traditional arrangement, what would you do differently?

[[Category:School Design]]

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