Many resources now punctuate the maker movement landscape. However, some schools and communities still struggle to understand this burgeoning movement. How do we define these spaces and differentiate them from previous labs and shops? Through a multidimensional framework, stakeholders should consider how the structure, access, staffing, and tools…

When architects discuss the educational facilities of the next century and beyond, the conversation turns to collaborative spaces. They envision flexible and fluid spaces that will encourage creative and critical thinking, and free students to communicate clearly about the task at hand. While these are admirable ideals, there are some fundamental…

Given the differences in social, emotional, and physiological development among elementary, middle, and high school students, it should come as no surprise that collaborative spaces should be designed differently for each age group. The needs of younger students do not necessarily mirror those of their older peers. Architect and educator Peter…

This paper centres around a discussion of the design and rebuild of a secondary school in Birmingham (England) as part of the Building Schools of the Future (BSF) Programme. The BSF Programme was influenced by a vision of future schooling in which learning environments are transformed by the integration of ICT into teaching and learning practices.…

The study presents a phenomenologically based research procedure, whose intent is to examine people's school experience and the meaning they ascribe to "school." Participants in this investigative endeavor are instructed to sketch an "ideal school," present their plan in a visual-schematic manner, and provide an oral and written description of…

In these troubled economic times, members of college and university communities must provide effective learning environments to support ever-changing curricula while reducing budgets. At the same time, a growing body of literature points to shifting needs of the variously named digital natives, Millennials or the Net Generation. This article…

Examines the design concepts behind the Manassas Park High School (Northern Virginia) that created the National School Board Association's grand prize for best new school in the country. Design features are discussed along with floor plans and photos. (GR)

THE PRESENT STATE OF DESIGN ON THE PRIMARY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT IS REPRESENTED IN A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS AND PAPERS. THE REPORT GENERALIZES ABOUT QUALITATIVE FEATURES OF SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AND SOME OF THEIR CONSEQUENCES FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH GROUP'S OBSERVATIONS, IN THE COURSE OF WHICH SOME SYSTEMATIC…

The American Institute of Architects convened a 1997 conference to explore the issues specific to designing specialties in educational facilities caused by educational reform's emerging methodologies and teaching philosophies. This document discusses the presenter's views of these issues in the following areas: creating engaging learning…