Welcome To Idea Street!
Last January, I took a risk and placed a Makerspace in our hallway because our students deserved something better! (http://connectedleadlearner.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-ones-who-see-things-differently.html?m=1). This was a massive success, as it created a movement of makers (students and staff), while improving the climate and culture in the building.
Take a moment and think about the hallways in your current learning environment. Lockers, open space, bulletin boards, and student work come to mind as it depends on the grade level building that you work in. As you walk down your hallways, does it create a sense of invitation of excitement to students or does it scream traditional, institutional, boring where discipline issues occur? More than likely, it's the later of the two. Yet, I have to ask, "Why do we continue to ignore this"? This ladies and gentlemen is where I draw the line.
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| What our "hallways" used to look like. |
After reading David Jakes blog post last year, The Importance of Words in Education (http://davidjakes.me/?p=1602) and having him brought in for a full day of design PD (http://blogs.ncs-nj.org/daedalus/2015/07/17/our-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn/) I couldn't help to think about our learning space more.
The conversations that took place truly pushed my mindset to make a change. Why? Because, we are in preparing our students to excel in today's world, instead of the past.
Statistically speaking, hallways in a school building make up to 30% or more of unused space. For the past year, I toyed with the idea of creating something different. Anyone that knows me, knows that I don't believe that all learning takes place in the "classroom" and we need to be different for our students. I even joked from time to time about making it look like Google, or Ron Clark's schools instead of just a boring space.
So what did we do????
-All bulletin boards have been replaced by writable whiteboards. Other open areas have also been covered. Yes, they can even use the windows overlooking the library and outside as dry erase boards too! Can anyone say d. School?
-Stationary bikes have arrived. Yes, we have 5 stationary bikes on Idea Street. Imagine reading a book or just simply exercising while having a class on Idea Street?
-An 80in. by 80in. Lego wall is going up near the fifth grade wing. Creativity anyone?
-We constructed (yes, designed and cut) two bars for the idea wall/genius bar for our tech squad, in the shape of surfboards since we are a shore community.
- 7 tall round bar tables with multicolored, raised chairs are on on their way!
-Yes, we even have an aquarium going in on Idea Street! A trophy case built into the wall, will be the home for our terrapin turtles that Mr. Law (6th grade science teacher) is receiving in a grant.
-The students upon returning will be painting the aquarium area walls to resemble the turtles natural habitat.
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| After putting the bikes together, a few tech squad students, Janice Dye (@JaniceDye22), our Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, and I went for a ride. These will be positioned on Idea Street, overlooking the outside courtyard. |
LEGO WALL coming soon!
Our amazing IT Director, Aleng aka @Alengman is always around to assist when it comes to bettering our school!
Our goal is to create an "experience" for our staff and students to promote learning anywhere at anytime. Also, with the additional 10 tables going up outside, thanks to our PTO, we are creating an innovative environment that strongly supports our goal of implementing design thinking, hands on making, and being empathetic centered learners.
Taking the advice of David, we changed our wording and renamed our hallways to "Idea Streets".
As we move forward, I leave you with the very same question David Jakes presented to me.
"Before you purchase or change anything for the sake of changing, what is the experience you are trying to create?"
MORE TO COME....
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