Question 3) Why should school architects design educational facilities that facilitate the Project Based Learning methodology?
World-class Project Based Service Learning can take place under a tree, which may be a good metaphor as to how schools should be designed to accommodate the Project Based Learning model. PBL/SL is oftentimes messy, sprawling, chaotic, and loud (a good loud). Schools (trees?) designed for this type of hands-on education will by nature be comfortable, flexible spaces where movement into cooperative groups is accommodated; where students can “make a mess” without any resultant adult neurosis; where there are nooks for a student to solve a project related issue in peace; where technology can be at hand as easily and flexibly as the #2 pencil; where the cacophony of students enthusiastically creating their educational processes does not impinge on other students’ right to the same thing; where students learn in an environment filled with natural light, with good acoustics and safe, non-toxic design materials; and where the school itself is a 3 dimensional textbook so students can authentically learn from inside the very walls of their classrooms.
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