In my international travels I’ve seen many amazing schools, universities and libraries, some that are visually stunning, but often there is something missing. Designing spaces for effective work and learning requires the connection of three distinct ‘spaces’ – cultural, technological and physical – each in harmony. When one is missing you are stuck in… …a waitingContinueContinue reading “Designing effective spaces for working and learning: How to avoid the factory, the treadmill and the waiting room”
Category Archives: Space and design for learning
Every space tells a story: Is your library the community’s living room? 6xCs to shaping your narrative.
I have a soft spot for libraries. I started my teaching career in a primary school as the teacher librarian. This isn’t usually the first job for a young graduate, but it was mine. I loved reading to the children, making author and theme related display, but most of all, seeing the children explore the worldContinueContinue reading “Every space tells a story: Is your library the community’s living room? 6xCs to shaping your narrative.”
Every space tells a story. Is yours a place that supports the work of innovation? 10 Ideas to ponder
A few years ago I was presenting a workshop at a conference that was held in a school. The classroom allocated to me was one of the most depressing spaces I had ever encountered. As a professional learning space, I tried to do my best to reconfigure it, but the only thing I could reallyContinueContinue reading “Every space tells a story. Is yours a place that supports the work of innovation? 10 Ideas to ponder”
Leadership again: “I’ve opened the space for learning, now what?” #thingsyoushouldneversay
Imagine if the story of the stork delivering the baby was true. When I was young, kids’ TV shows didn’t dare mention, or even allude to, the real method of conception and delivery. Instead, we saw the image of a stork delivering a baby, perhaps unsuspectingly, to the happy couple. “The baby’s here, now what?”ContinueContinue reading “Leadership again: “I’ve opened the space for learning, now what?” #thingsyoushouldneversay”
Multi-level schools for multi-level living: 7 lessons from great cities around the world (and lots of pics)
Look around at the places where people gather: shopping malls, offices, hotel lobbies, pubs. All these places are seeking to make an environment that make people want to return. At my local mall there are numerous ‘living room’ areas for people to sit, meet and wait. The design of these new communities are multi-level, spaciousContinueContinue reading “Multi-level schools for multi-level living: 7 lessons from great cities around the world (and lots of pics)”
On the road in CPH: The Hub, Maglegardskolan & Orestad Gymnasium #VisionTour13
After much planning our tour group gathered together for dinner last night at a restaurant in downtown Copenhagen (CPH) run by a young Australian guy. It was the first opportunity for us all to meet and start the getting-to-know-you process, as we travel together for the next two weeks. The morning started with a goodContinueContinue reading “On the road in CPH: The Hub, Maglegardskolan & Orestad Gymnasium #VisionTour13”
In the new paradigm of work and learning, have we given sufficient thought to the teacher workspace?
In the last couple of weeks I have had tours of city workplaces, particularly in the banking sector, that are opting for the activity-based work (ABW) approaches to organising their people and spaces. ABW does away with a personal workspace for each employee, while providing different spaces for various work functions, including collaboration, learning, focusing,ContinueContinue reading “In the new paradigm of work and learning, have we given sufficient thought to the teacher workspace?”
Open space learning: Let’s talk about the elephant-in-the-(class)-room. The ABC of acoustics
I was standing in The Zone with an architect. The hubbub of learning engagement was all around. 180 students and six teachers call this space ‘home’ at Northern Beaches Christian School. In front of us a teacher was taking a large group through a step-by-step process on a particularly technical aspect of uploading their workContinueContinue reading “Open space learning: Let’s talk about the elephant-in-the-(class)-room. The ABC of acoustics”
There’s no *place* like *home* – why comfort and community matter when we work, learn, play & create
This post is my presentation at the Education Future Forum, 15 March 2013 There is no sense of ‘place’ that is greater than ‘home’. Hugh Mackay, in What makes us tick? Ten desires that drive us says ‘My place’ is partly an anchor, partly a refuge, partly a stable point in a world that seemsContinueContinue reading “There’s no *place* like *home* – why comfort and community matter when we work, learn, play & create”
The global Hub movement: How the ‘Third Place’ creates a working, social and communal space with purpose #scilvision12
The Third Place refers to a coworking space that creates a rich community of creative businesses, non-profits and start-ups. They generally have a unique culture where opportunity and idea sharing takes place. The concept of the Third Place emerged from a combination of the home office, flexible hours and results oriented work. The concept of ‘working fromContinueContinue reading “The global Hub movement: How the ‘Third Place’ creates a working, social and communal space with purpose #scilvision12”
culture | learning | design 