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AAV of the School Facilities for the 21st Century


This is an Accessible Alternative Version (AAV) of the School Facilities for the 21st Century(PPT) that provides an overview of Common Core and examples of how districts have adapted their facilities to support Common Core. The PowerPoint format is the preferred version for downloading.

Slides

1. School Facilities for 21st Century Learning

February 23-25, 2015

Fred Yeager, Interim Director
Molly Stitt, Educational Program Consultant
School Facilities and Transportation Services Division

California Department of Education
Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

2. What We Know
  • Facilities matter
  • Things change
  • Most students in the early part of the 21st century will be taught in buildings built in the 20th century
  • Design decisions are made locally
3. Impact of Facilities on Student Performance
  • Facility conditions
    • Indoor air quality, thermal comfort, acoustics, lighting, maintenance
  • Facility design
    • Building size, day lighting, specialty spaces, common areas, relationship of spaces to each other, aesthetic, environmental quality
  • Facility utilization
    • Crowding, community access, joint and shared use
4. The Research

Studies indicate that student performance is improved by an even distribution of daylight, an expansive view, and limited glare and thermal heat gain. One study found 20 percent faster student progress on math and 26 percent faster progress in reading compared with students in classrooms with less exposure to daylight.

(Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2004; Heschong Mahone Group, 1999)

5. Photograph of Dover Elementary Library, West Contra Costa Unified School District
6. The Research

Students who receive instruction in buildings with good environmental conditions can earn test scores that are 5-17 percent higher than scores for students in substandard buildings. (Earthman, 2002)

7. Photograph of a classroom with students at High Tech Elementary in Chula Vista, California.
8. The Research

Schools with better building conditions have up to 14 percent lower student suspension rates.

(Stephen Boese and John Shaw, 2005)

9. Photograph of a classroom at Randall Elementary School, Milpitas Unified School District
10. The Research

Improving a school's "overall compliance rating" to meet health and safety standards can lead to a 36-point increase in California Academic Performance Index scores.

(Buckley, Schneider, Shang, 2004)

11. Common Core State Standards
  • The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Initiative is a voluntary, state-led effort to establish clear and consistent education standards.
  • The new standards are rigorous, research-based, and designed to prepare every student for success in college and the workforce. The standards are internationally benchmarked to ensure that our students are able to compete with students around the globe.
  • The CCSS were developed for English-language arts and mathematics for kindergarten through grade twelve.
12. CCSS: Remodeling Our Education System
  • With Common Core, students learn material in greater depth so they are able to use and apply information to real world issues and challenges.
  • Common Core provides more focus and rigor in the early grades.
  • Students learn to express ideas, work together, and listen carefully to integrate and evaluate information.
  • Project-based learning enables students to take charge of their own learning.
13. The Partnership for 21st Century Learning

21st century student outcomes and support systems outlined in a diagram which includes life and career skills, learning and innovation skills (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity), core subjects and 21st century themes, information, media, and technology skills

14. Technology Promotes Development of 21st Century Learning Skills

The Five Cs

  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Critical thinking
  • Creativity
  • Civility
15. Design with Technology in Mind
  • Adaptable spaces
  • Extended learning areas
  • Accommodating furniture
  • Adequate electrical charging stations
  • Access to peripheral devices
  • Secure electronic storage
  • Flexibility with infrastructure improvements
  • Ability to integrate the constant flow of new technologies
  • One to one computing/hand-held devices
  • Learning occurs anytime, anyplace, any path
16. Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education

STEM education is a sequence of courses or program of study that prepares students, including underrepresented groups:

  • for successful employment, post-secondary education, or both that require different and more technically sophisticated skills including the application of mathematics and science skills and concepts, and
  • to be competent, capable citizens in our technology-dependent, democratic society.
17. "STEAM" Education

"STEAM" adds the Arts to STEM and encourages integration of Art + Design in K-20 education and influences employers to hire artists and designers to drive innovation.

18. Career Technical Education

A program of study that integrates core academic knowledge with technical and occupational knowledge to provide students with a pathway to postsecondary education and careers.

  • High school students may earn college credit and/or certifications so they are prepared for college and career at graduation.
  • Career Tech Education (CTE) often overlaps with STEM.
  • There are 16 Career Clusters in CTE, including but not limited to STEM, Information Technology, Health Science, Manufacturing, Architecture and Construction, Arts and A/V Technology and Communications.
19. Project-based learning

Project-based learning calls for flexible learning environments that facilitate collaboration and enable students to report out and teach others about their findings.

Slide also includes photographs of students learning in a group with a laptop, students working on models, and students in a robotics class.

20. Galt High School Engineering and Bio-Medical Science Academy Prototype Lab

A photograph of the prototype lab.

21. Photograph of the modernization project at Ernest McBridge High School in Long Beach, California
22. New Construction within Existing School Site

Two photographs of the Lincoln High School Engineering and Construction Academy in Stockton, California

23. The Applied Technology Center, Montebello, California

Four photographs

  • The student learning hub
  • The health pathway lab
  • The ACE construction pathway lab
  • The health pathway lab floor plan
24. The Research

The recent National Action Plan for Greening America's Schools concludes that a sustainable school creates a healthy environment that is conducive to learning and saves energy, resources, and money. Additional benefits of sustainable schools include improved student health, attendance, and academic achievement.

(Washington, DC: U.S. Green Building Council, 2010)

25. U.S. Department of Education Recognition Award

The U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) recognition award honors schools that are exemplary in reducing environmental impact and costs; improving the health and wellness of students and staff; and providing effective environmental and sustainability education, which incorporates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), civic skills and green career pathways.

Slide includes two photographs one with students in front of a sign Love This Planet and another of students in front of the world from space.

26. Three Pillars of the Green Ribbon Schools Program Award

Application reviews are based on the applicant's demonstrated progress towards reaching the goals of each of the three ED-GRS Pillars, which are:

  • Pillar I: Reduce environmental impact and costs
  • Pillar II: Improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff
  • Pillar III: Provide effective environmental and sustainability literacy, incorporating STEM, civic skills, and green career pathways
27. Most School Buildings are from the 20th Century
Built Between Estimated Number Estimated Percent
Pre-1940
706
14%
1940-1959
2,168
43%
1960-1979
1,764
35%
1980-1994
403
8%
Total
5,041
100%

Source: Department of Health Services (1998)

28. 20th Century Classrooms can be 21st Century Classrooms

Same space used differently

Three photographs:

  • 20th century classroom
  • 21st century classroom
  • 20th century classroom
29. 20th Century Classrooms can be 21st Century Classrooms

High touch - high tech

Two photographs:

  • 20th century classroom
  • 21st century classroom
30. Same Space - Used much differently

Diagram of the evolution of the Ford Model

Early 20th century school design standard modeled after Henry Ford's factory production methods. Evolution of the Ford model, the corridor is expanded to become a collaborative area.

31. Sort of the Same Space - Used much differently

Diagram of two classrooms set up differently for different uses. Photograph of nature. Cool thing about this picture is that I did not just grab it off the Web page - I went outside and took it...that's real nature there!

32. How do districts move their facilities to the 21st Century?
  • Leadership and Vision
    • High level
  • Planning
    • Facility master plan
    • Facility condition assessment
    • Educational specification
  • Engagement
    • Community
    • Teachers
32. How do districts move their facilities to the 21st Century?
  • Time

Community engagement in the school design process - timeline

Source: Baltimore City Schools, March 2014

33. Architect Selection: Consider these Questions

(Lippman, 2013)

  • Why do you design schools?
  • How long have you been designing and constructing schools?
  • What does the term "21st century learning" mean to you?
  • Why should we be designing environments for 21st century learning?
  • Describe your design approach and philosophy. What education theory or theories guide your design approach? What project have you done that shows your theory in the design?
34. Architect Selection: Consider these Questions?

(Lippman, 2013)

  • What is collaborative space? How do you imagine various constituencies using these spaces?
  • How do collaborative places support constructivist learning?
  • What is a flexible learning environment? How does flexibility support collaboration? Are collaborative spaces differentiated? Why? Are these spaces integrated? Why?
  • How has information technology influenced the learning environment, both positively and negatively?
35. Architect Selection: Consider these Questions?

(Lippman, 2013)

  • What technologies would you recommend for the learning environment and why? How does spacial design support the technology within an active learning environment? And vice versa?
  • Tell us about a special feature or features of the learning environment that you have created to support teaching and learning?

Lippman, Peter C., Design for the ages: creating collaborative space for different grade levels depends on picking the right design team: T.H.E. [Technological Horizons in Education] Journal Feb. 2013: 26+

36. Resources

Common Core State Standards

Smarter Balanced Assessment System

K-12 High Speed Network External link opens in new window or tab.

37. Resources

Career Technical Education

The National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium External link opens in new window or tab.

Career Technical Education Standards (PDF)

The California Career Resource Network (CalCRN) External link opens in new window or tab.

38. Resources

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) information

3rd Annual California STEM Symposium at the Anaheim Convention Center, October 28 to October 30, 2015

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills External link opens in new window or tab.

Research that supports the vision and guiding principles throughout the school facilities planning, design, and implementation process

39. Further Readings

Kiefer, A. (2012)
School Furniture by the Square Foot
American School and University, February 2012

Lippman, P. (2013)
Design for the ages: creating collaborative space for different grade level depends on picking the right design team
T.H.E. [Technological Horizons in Education] Journal, Feb. 2013: 26+

Parkhill Smith and Cooper Architects (2014) External link opens in new window or tab.
21st century school conceptual floor plan vs. traditional school floor plan.
This animated video shows two classroom layouts. Both layouts represent an entire grade level.

40. Further Readings

Raths, D. (2013
Bringing down the wall: schools are using configurable chairs, whiteboards, and even walls to give students control of their environment and inspire them to work together
T.H.E. [Technological Horizons in Education] Journal, Feb. 2013: 26+

Saval, N. (2014)
Cubed: A Secret History of the Workplace

Scott-Weber, L., Strickland, A., and Kapitula, L. (2014
How Classroom Design Affects Student Engagement

41. Contact Information

Molly Stitt, Education Program Consultant
916-322-6249

Questions:   Molly Stitt | mstitt@cde.ca.gov | 916-322-6249
Last Reviewed: Monday, July 17, 2023