Boston, MA – A recent panel discussion moderated by Cannon Design’s Stephen Johnson, FAIA, opened fresh new dialogue regarding the future of K-12 education and how design impacts learning. Panelist Trung Le, AIA, Cannon design principal, called on educators across the country to build better new schools for K-12 students. This call to action is exemplified in the book that Le co-authored, The Third Teacher, a movement encouraging designers, educators, policy makers, and students to transform learning environments in an effort to make schools more efficient, comfortable, healthy, and effective.
The event, which was held in Boston and attended by educators from around the state, centered on exploring the key themes of the book. Joining Le on the panel were Christian Long, architect, educator and school planner; Michael Contompasis, former superintendent for Boston Public Schools; Amy Ryan, president of Boston Public Library; and Stacey Rainey, academic program manager of the Partners in Learning national programs for Microsoft.
Le started the conversation by saying:
“Give our kids the ability to learn and create in a collaborative environment and they will have the ability to work together to solve problems.”
Rainey said true learning happens when we start marking kids on their mistakes instead of their correct answers. “If you are scared of failure, you are only going to take baby steps.”
She also went on to say the best new school projects are those that connect to the communities they serve. “Involve the community and include them in the process. They will feel they have a critical role in the new school’s success.”
Contompasis said the most difficult but most critical step to improving education and learning spaces is changing the culture. “Flexibility in design is a must so that space is created with an eye toward innovation and the future.”
Ryan said that libraries of today serve a unique role in the education process and used the example of the new branch library in Mattapan, located in Boston. “Librarians are transforming into information navigators and mentors to kids. It’s where early literacy starts for many children as we support programs for parents and caregivers. Our libraries are where interactive learning takes place. They are also a safe haven for teens to gather. In libraries, we see students’ learning styles are very different but they all want to learn together and have access to technology.”
The Massachusetts School Building Authority plans to allocate $2.5 billion over the next five years for school renovation, expansion, and construction. Le urged the audience to stay involved with the conversation surrounding the issues raised by The Third Teacher and to use it as an advocacy tool as new projects are identified.
How Design Impacts Learning: Cannon Design Starts New Conversation About Education Reform
Boston, MA – A recent panel discussion moderated by Cannon Design’s Stephen Johnson, FAIA, opened fresh new dialogue regarding the future of K-12 education and how design impacts learning. Panelist Trung Le, AIA, Cannon design principal, called on educators across the country to build better new schools for K-12 students.