Page 55 - ANAHEIM 2019

SESSIONABSTRACTS continued... SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm
Learning Objectives
OBJ #1 Understanding of the demographic shift in particular categories of special education students and its impact on school facility design.
OBJ #2 How the built environment can help reduce the health and safety risk to special education students.
OBJ #3 How innovative evidence-based design strategies can help support learning objectives and Individual Education Plan (IEP) of ASD, MD, and SD special education students.
OBJ #4 How evidence-based innovative design strategies can help mitigate teacher ‘burn out’ and attrition in ASD, MD, and SD special education programs.
Designing Creative Learning Experiences Through Outdoor Innovation
Ryan Kalis, Ed.S. , Principal, Sunflower Elementary , Shawnee Mission School District / Michelle Chavey, AIA, ALEP, Partner | Educational Design Director, Hollis + Miller Architects / Terrace / AIA CEU: 1.0 LU HSW / Primary Core Competencies: Educational Visioning / Secondary Core Competencies: Assessment of the School Facility
Innovation in learning environments is rooted in the co-creation of experiences that allow for synergy between instruction and design, both inside and out. As the boundaries of the traditional classroom are challenged, leveraging experiences beyond the walls of the school building can provide unique ways to bring immersive learning to students, enriching both physical and emotional development. Valuable to both educators and designers, the consideration of unique perspectives of various stakeholder groups exposes powerful insight into opportunities for instruction and learning. We’ll share a holistic research effort that includes preconceived educator views on what outdoor learning brings to the educational landscape, observational research of student experiences and follow-up findings from
the educator’s perspective. An important discussion point will be the inclusion of community resources to provide
an additional layer of instructional support to educators and students. By establishing a process that emphasizes learning at all phases of a project, we can build empathy in designers, incorporate students in a meaningful way and create environments that are flexible tools for educators. You’ll journey with us as we explore multiple ways to create learning experiences during the implementation of an outdoor learning environment, as well the benefits educators can leverage during instructional design. We’ll also share how working with sustainability and curriculum/instruction resources can frame sustainability challenges as project-based learning scenarios for students. Aligning these efforts with grade level and Next Generation Science Standards, we can jointly work toward a goal of personalizing learning and bolstering student achievement for life-long success.
Learning Objectives
OBJ #1 Participants will become familiar with opportunities to leverage school and community resources to create personalized and immersive learning opportunities for students.
OBJ #2 Participants will be able to identify the impact of educator awareness and training on the successful use of an outdoor learning environment by students and staff.
OBJ #3 Participants will be able to consider various implementation options of learning opportunities during the design, construction and use of an outdoor environment.
OBJ #4 Participants will learn how sustainability interests and science standards can be considered during design to bolster student engagement in outdoor learning experiences.