issues+when+changing

Educators/boards/schools face a number of challenges when making decisions to fundamentally change learning spaces. Here are a few considerations;

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 * Changing existing learning spaces need to connect learning communities and individuals together. Existing architecture could be utilised to be more cost effective such as using corridors as leaning spaces.
 * There is a mismatch of allocated funds that the Ministry of Education provide in the finance property fund, provided to schools. To create a 21st Century learning environment costs money. Schools rely heavily on the good will of community to buy goods, dependent on the socio-economic area. Without this input from local community, expenditure would be at least double.
 * Older buildings in New Zealand Education are rectangular boxes and prefabs so they become problematic in developing the aspired open spaces that are needed to develop 21st Century learning spaces.
 * The Ministry of Education does not provide support or use their buying power to get the best for schools. Rural schools have to develop their own support, rather than get the best support from a large organisation.
 * Learning spaces must be places that invite learning. Moving away from traditional settings to furnishings that focus on a place where students want to learn and media that is intertwined within the learning environment.
 * Learning spaces can be designed to differentiate for a variety of social learning experiences. (Individual learning, small and larger group learning areas)
 * Open spaces can be challenging for some educators-moving away from 4 walls and control. The pedagogy and beliefs of learning / self management and engagement- is a team approach- it takes a family to assist in the learning, moving away from the responsibility of one person. Teachers need support and require extensive professional development and that encourages the use of ICT as a support tool to engage the learners.
 * Support and guidance for communities and families needs to be provided, so that they get an understanding of how changes can best support learning.
 * Vision of the b oard and senior leadership within the school to value learning spaces. We create what we know rather than base it on research- I think here in NZ, especially in the South Island, there are a limited number of modern 21st C environments look like so that BOT can view and see the changes in learning.
 * ICT Infrastructure needs to be adequate so that students have digital accessibility anywhere, anytime, anyplace using Macs, Pc's, Ipods, Ipads, or digital devices from home. The learner needs to be able to access and save their work in any place. The ability to also have plug in power points in any area.

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