Environments are not just containers,
but are processes that change the content totally.
– Marshall McLuhan
The one-room schools of the 19th century gave way to the Ford Model schools of the early 20th century, which have persisted into the 21st century constricting education with a Cells-and-Bells paradigm. The
social, cultural, affective, technological, and economic aspects of educational climates urge us to consider
a dynamic classroom, a broader curriculum, and a more cohesive vision for learning.
The Southeast Center for Education in the Arts' 4th national Arts and Education Forum convened 46 educators, artists, and professionals from diverse disciplines to actively explore the changing environments in which we teach and learn. Through transformative discussions, visual brainstorming, and artistic problem solving participants shifted their thinking beyond the stereotypical to design elegant environments for education.
The Forum featured participatory interaction over passive listening. Monologic presentations were out and collaborative explorations were in. Participants worked in teams of six to design learningscapes that elegantly embody physical, instructional, and aesthetic elements for effective teaching and learning. The teams addressed five Aspects of Learning Environments during the phases of their Learningscape Design Project: preparation, exploration, strategizing, documentation, and reporting. Field trips around Chattanooga broadened recognition of the diversity of learningscapes. Drawing on their interdisciplinary knowledge and skills, each team refined their learningscape design and then presented and discussed their work with all the Forum participants.
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| click to download complete Forum program |
this prezi presentation opened the Forum |
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click headings below to learn more about Forum topics and strategies
Touchstones |
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Topics |
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Strategies |
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Forum participants spent Thursday morning at the Challenger Learning Center participating in team building challenges and experiencing the Voyage to Mars simulation working both in Mission Control and the Mars transport vehicle.------
click here for more info
SITE VISITS |
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the Forum was supported by a grant from
