What′s in Your Space?: 5 Steps for Better School and Classroom Design

Transformed learning spaces begin with transformed thought  For two decades, educators have been told to incorporate skills for the global economy, adapt to diverse learning styles, and employ technology. This requires changing our thinking spaces and our physical spaces. How can or should they change to keep pace with and reflect 21st Century teaching models?  In What’s in Your Space?, the group behind one of America’s most recognized school redesign projects walks you through the process of designing both "thinking" and "learning" spaces to accommodate today’s rigorous learning models. Throughout this book, educators will Reflect upon their craft and role in 21st Century education Understand the nuances of teaching Generation Z Discover design principles to help establish tech-embedded learning environments Collaborate with other educators to craft a scalable plan for redesigning learning spaces As we shift our thinking, it follows that the spaces in which we work and learn will also be transformed. Discover how to do it well. "We, as educators, can’t shift fast enough to keep up with the needs of today’s learners, but this book is a great leap in the right direction of doing so!" Brooke Menduni, Assistant Principal  Dublin City Schools "There is something so unique about the framework/approach/lens of the actual physical change, so closely associated with the philosophical and pedagogical changes that can make this transformation real." Carol Spencer, Director of Curriculum Addison Northwest Supervisory Union

Table of Contents:
Introduction The Parable of the Sage and the Two Spaces Step 1: Understand Generation Z The Importance of Cell Phones Connected Through Social Media The Influence of Gaming Working in Small Groups It′s All About the Internet Memorization and Motivation The Importance of Relationships Begin Taking Steps - Now! Professional Development Ideas to Understand Generation Z Step 2: Start Asking Questions Our Beginning Our Shift Listening to Others Clear Talking Points A New Design Process for a New Type of Building Chairs Are for Thinking, Not Just Sitting Desks Can Be Tools for Collaboration Carpet Diem Creativity is Contagious Different Skills, Different Spaces The Importance of Technology Fostering Student Buy-In A New Type of Building, a New Funding Formula... and New Challenges The Importance of Selecting and Training Staff Understanding That Educators Evolve at Different Speeds Sometimes People Need to See New Ideas to Understand Them Remaining True to Our Core Value An Example of Teaching in a Z Space Like Clark Hall It′s the Teaching and the Relationships, Not Just the Space Clark Hall Today Two Essential Questions to Begin the Design of Your Z Space Step 3: Shift to a 21st Century Mindset We Must View Space Redesign as a K-12 Process We Must Understand That Space Redesign Can Be Done on a Large Scale or a Small Scale We Must Find Ways to Make This Shift Even When Budgets Are Tight We Must Build a Culture of Trust in Our Schools We Must Recognize That a Learning Space Can Enhance 21st Century Learning We Should Make the Space Redesign a Group Effort We Must Be Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable We Should Study What Researchers Are Saying About 21st Century Learning We Should Gather Ideas From New Sources We Should Embrace Social Media We Should Form Clear Objectives for How We Want to Use the Space and Communicate Those Objectives to Our Staff and Community We Should Consider the Finishing Touches First We Must Acknowledge That the Learning Space Is Only as Good as the Teaching That Takes Place In It We Must Embrace the Idea That the Teacher in a 21st Century Learning Space Will Be a Facilitator, Not the Disseminator of Information Professional Development Activities to Shift Thinking to a 21st Century Mindset Step 4: Teach Global Skills Standardized Testing and Global Skills The Common Core State Standards Other Sources for Global Skills Graduate Profiles Three Stages of Development The Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools Graduate Profile Breaking Down a Graduate Profile Into Segments Global Skills at River Bluff High School Media Center Redesigns Z Spaces at the Elementary Level Individual Teacher or Small Team Skill Lists Professional Development Ideas to Teach Global Skills Step 5: Let Students Use Technology We Need Technology We Must Learn From Our Past We Must Envision How Technology and Space Can Enhance Learning We Must Model With Our Teachers What We Expect to See In Our Classroom Our Network Must Be So Strong and Well Maintained That It Rarely Crashes Our Technology Budget Must Be Robust We Must Teach Students to Use the Internet Ethically We Must Discuss the Role of Technology in Teacher Assessments We Must Realize This Is a Career-Long Initiative We Must Turn to the True Experts: Our Students Professional Development Activities to Help Students Use Technology

About the Author :
Dwight Carter is a nationally recognized school leader from Central OH. Because of his collaborative and innovative leadership, in 2010, he was inducted into the Jostens Renaissance Educator Hall of Fame. He was also named a 2013 National Association of Secondary School Principals Digital Principal of the Year, the 2014 Academy of Arts and Science Education High School Principal of the Year, and the 2015 Ohio Alliance of Black School Educators Principal of the Year. He has served as principal at Gahanna Lincoln High School, New Albany High School and has been a leadership coach and consultant. Mr. Carter has frequently been a guest speaker in schools, universities, and at local, state, and national conferences that deal with Generations Z and Alpha, technology integration, staff development, school culture, and other 21st Century education topics. He has authored numerous blogs and has written on behalf of NASSP. He has also been a high school social studies teacher, a high school assistant principal, and a middle school principal during his twenty-seven career. He is currently an Assistant Director at Eastland Career Center in Groveport, OH.  Gary Sebach is a LEED accredited professional architect currently serving as the Director of Architecture at OHM Advisors, an architecture, engineering, and planning firm located in Ohio, Michigan, and Tennessee.  Gary has led multi-disciplinary teams through designing all types of facilities, yet his ability to create dynamic and progressive educational facilities and corporate campuses has defined his 30-year career. His experience includes working with Fortune 500 giants including Cardinal Health, IGS Energy, and BMW Financial Services, as well as working with school districts throughout Ohio.  A firm advocate of 21st Century Education trends, Gary’s designs foster creativity and collaboration while supporting the variety of learning and working styles of students. He recently presented ‘21st Century Education Through the Lens of an Architect’ at the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) annual conference and was a featured speaker at the 2013 American Planning Association Ohio Chapter presentation ‘From Pavement to Partnership: The Clark Hall Story’. Mark White is a school leadership and training consultant. Previously, he was the director of education and outreach at Mindset Digital and academic principal in the International Department of the Beijing National Day School in Beijing, China. As the superintendent of the Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools in Gahanna, Ohio, he played a key role in the design of Clark Hall and the implementation of global skills and technology into its curriculum. During his tenure as superintendent, the district earned the state′s highest academic ranking, opened Clark Hall, and achieved financial stability. Mr. White has been a consultant to both the College Board and the ACT and has served on two national education reform committees. He has frequently been a guest speaker at schools and universities and at local, state, and national conferences. Prior to being a superintendent, Mr. White was a band director, high school English teacher and department head, high school assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent.

Review :
"Decision makers in school districts need to read, think about, and promote the ideas and concepts found in this book. Schools need to provide the types of learning experiences and spaces that will equip students with the tools they need for success in a quickly changing future. The ideas in this book will help to prepare students for success in fields that have yet to be defined, and for jobs that right now do not exist." "There is something so unique about the framework/approach/lens of the actual physical change, so closely associated with the philosophical and pedagogical changes that can make this transformation real." "We, as educators, can’t shift fast enough to keep up with the needs of today’s learners, but this book is a great leap in the right direction of doing so!"