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Goal 4 - Quality EducationBuilding a Better School
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Big Idea
To think about the need for quality learning environments (facilities, fairness and inclusion) - one of the ideas fostered by UNICEF under quality learning environments: Defining Quality in Education
Think about the facilities, or lack of facilities, in schools around the world and how these compare with what we have in our own school and country. If you could design your own school, what would it look like?
Think about the facilities, or lack of facilities, in schools around the world and how these compare with what we have in our own school and country. If you could design your own school, what would it look like?
Type of Activity:
Activity: Building a better school
Learning outcomes: the chart and suggestions compromised in groups discussion, some understanding of schools around the world, student designs for schools.
Learning outcomes: the chart and suggestions compromised in groups discussion, some understanding of schools around the world, student designs for schools.
Who is it for?
Ages 11 to 18.
What do I need?
Floorplan and photographs of your school, access to internet, photographs and weblinks, print outs of table to record findings, pencils, pens, crayons.
How long does it take?
1 or 2 lessons (depending on the time of the lesson).
Introduction
Stimulus – Take a walk around your school (inside and outside) - teachers plan the route in advance - walk through route and floor plan prepared and photos of the current facilities.
Divide students into groups of 4. Teachers take out some photos and a floor plan of the school. Gather students to study the floor plan and the photos and some facilities.
Questions prepared for students to discuss:
Divide students into groups of 4. Teachers take out some photos and a floor plan of the school. Gather students to study the floor plan and the photos and some facilities.
Questions prepared for students to discuss:
- From your experience, is there any part of the facilities you find it hard to use (refer to the floor plan)?
- Are you satisfied with the facilities provided by the school canteen?
- Are your satisfied with the sports facilities provided by the school/Gym? Please specify and provide suggestions.
- Are you satisfied with the classroom facilities? Please specify and provide suggestions.
- Does colour make a difference in schools? Do you think classrooms, etc, should be a light or dark colour?
- Are you satisfied with the library facilities? Please specify and provide suggestions.
- Are you satisfied with the outdoor facilities? Please specify and provide suggestions.
Chart - for students’ group discussion (list all ideas in bullet notes) - download here
Allow time for students to group-discuss properly. Students are to complete the chart individually upon the completion of discussion.
When you have looked at your own school, the class now look at the designs for this award-winning school building: St Luke’s C of E Primary School | Imagine School Design (wordpress.com) Would you like to attend this school? Think about how you would feel if this was your school.
Allow time for students to group-discuss properly. Students are to complete the chart individually upon the completion of discussion.
When you have looked at your own school, the class now look at the designs for this award-winning school building: St Luke’s C of E Primary School | Imagine School Design (wordpress.com) Would you like to attend this school? Think about how you would feel if this was your school.
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What next
Encourage students to voice ideas and explain how these facilities are not catering for their needs adequately. Also, provide suggestions to explain how they can get this ‘improved’ and make a record of the discussion (encourage the use of simple sketches and drawings or phrases).
Students are encouraged to record the discussion (share with group members) and complete the chart on their own as homework.
Take a look at photographs of schools around the world. How do they compare with our school? Do the students think that these facilities are a good environment to learn? Are there a lot of students in the class, compared to their class? Is there anything that they have in other countries that we don’t have in our school? What is more important in creating a good education - the facilities, resources or people?
Photos of classrooms around the world: Schools around the world – in pictures | World news | The Guardian
Photos of playgrounds around the world: James Mollison: Playground | International Photography Magazine (photogrvphy.com)
Students are encouraged to record the discussion (share with group members) and complete the chart on their own as homework.
Take a look at photographs of schools around the world. How do they compare with our school? Do the students think that these facilities are a good environment to learn? Are there a lot of students in the class, compared to their class? Is there anything that they have in other countries that we don’t have in our school? What is more important in creating a good education - the facilities, resources or people?
Photos of classrooms around the world: Schools around the world – in pictures | World news | The Guardian
Photos of playgrounds around the world: James Mollison: Playground | International Photography Magazine (photogrvphy.com)
The photos , below, are exemplar designs from around the world, taken from the Image School Design website: Imagine School Design | Exemplar School Design from around the World (wordpress.com)
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Finally
In the following lesson, students are to share and present their ideas in the class.
Teachers have all suggestions posted on the wall and compile a list of suggestions (feasible as feedback provided by teachers) and make a suggestion to the school (from students’ perspective).
In the same groups, the students then design and draw their own school facilities, thinking carefully about their findings earlier in the session – consider the learning environment, space per student, colour, storage, access to resources such as digital equipment, books, stationery, etc.
You could use a website to help: Design Your Classroom | Teaching Ideas, Design Your School | crayola.com, Classroom Architect (4teachers.org)
Students are encouraged to interview friends in other schools regarding the classroom, library and Gym facilities. Each student is encouraged to collect ONE opinion on each facility / room to be discussed.
Gather opinions on the group’s designs. Debate whether the building would be practical, would it be affordable, would it be sustainable?
Teachers have all suggestions posted on the wall and compile a list of suggestions (feasible as feedback provided by teachers) and make a suggestion to the school (from students’ perspective).
In the same groups, the students then design and draw their own school facilities, thinking carefully about their findings earlier in the session – consider the learning environment, space per student, colour, storage, access to resources such as digital equipment, books, stationery, etc.
You could use a website to help: Design Your Classroom | Teaching Ideas, Design Your School | crayola.com, Classroom Architect (4teachers.org)
Students are encouraged to interview friends in other schools regarding the classroom, library and Gym facilities. Each student is encouraged to collect ONE opinion on each facility / room to be discussed.
Gather opinions on the group’s designs. Debate whether the building would be practical, would it be affordable, would it be sustainable?
Find out more
This work may have inspired some budding architects! It will certainly have got young minds thinking ... about planning, about their own education and the challenges or advantages of students in other countries!
