Page 54 - LearningSCAPES 2021

SESSIONABSTRACTS continued...
• Increased understanding of playful learning principles.
• Learn how cities across the world have infused playful learning into public and shared spaces.
• Increased understanding of how to gather meaningful data to measure the impact of playful learning in urban spaces.
• Familiar with actionable steps that cities can take to adopt and scale playful learning in their communities.
Helen Hadani, Ph.D., Fellow, The Brookings Institution
As a fellow at the Brookings Institution, Dr. Hadani leads Playful Learning Landscapes—an initiative that brings together the fields of developmental science and placemaking with the goal of improving child and community outcomes. She has more than 20 years of experience in research and has worked with toy and media companies, including Disney, Sesame Workshop, and LEGO. Helen holds a B.A. in Cognitive Science from the University of Rochester and a Doctorate in Psychology from Stanford University.
Saturday, October 16, 2021 - 8:15 am – 9:45 am
JEDI Based Design
1 LU
What does it mean to create physical learning environments that embrace diversity, provide equity, and foster inclusion in their designs? What is the role of designers in connecting across cultures? Can facilities and designs be assessed for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI)? Are there tools to help designers create such environments?
This session will begin by exploring the importance of JEDI and how it spans societal practices, design practices, and built form. Broad issues of inequitable environments, with a focus on how racial bias and oppression influences our architecture and how
it is perceived and used, will be used to highlight issues of JEDI in design. Explorations will include how designs can be either hostile or welcoming to entire cultures, races, abilities, identities, orientations, and other intrinsic human traits.
For many architects and planners, working with other cultures means working with disadvantaged and BIPOC communities. Developing the deep understanding of issues, from grand vision to the programmatic, that is needed for truly successful projects requires authentic communication and developing trust and respect. Specialized skills and practices needed for truly diverse communities will be demonstrated by people from rural and urban communities, touching on issues of language, meaning, historical perspectives, and code-switching.
Tools for assessing built and proposed designs through a JEDI lens will be demonstrated, with a case study of how it has been developed with high school students, educators, and community members working with architects and planners. Participants will use a version of this tool to analyze a space using a JEDI lens, with results shared amongst the whole group.
The concept of just, equitable, and inclusive designs can be challenging for many. A generation ago a paradigm shift in implementation of accessibility codes transformed how design is approached. Christopher Alexander’s A Pattern Language offered a menu-based approach. A diverse panel of designers, owner’s representatives, and outreach specialists will explore and engage participants in a discussion of JEDI-based design examples.
Learning Objectives:
• Better understand the depth and breadth of the systemic racism and other inequalities that permeate public education.
• Expand their awareness of issues of JEDI and begin to effectively call for and begin the transformative action where it is most