Learning+Spaces+in+New+Zealand

= __Learning Spaces in New Zealand__ = = =

__Alriston College__
Alfriston College was on of the first new schools to be built in Auckland for over 25 years. The school has a distinct vision for a school culture that meets the diverse needs of the 21st century learner (ERO, 2006).

//** "A strong feature of the school is the thoughtful, well-designed development of the site and buildings to create a learning environment that encourages both formal and informal learning, and faciliates indepedent learning in supportive surroundings." **// (ERO, 2006)

====The school's architects, Warren and Mahoney, have designed a flexible learning and teaching space that has movable walls and has a variety of interal and external learning spaces catering for specific needs. ==== = =

====The Principal John Locke - "there is still a place for the directive/transmission teaching model, but we mainly had in mind fledible learning spaces with good acoustics in all environments for collaborative teaching, and a big emphasis on thinking and learning skills" (MOE, 2007) ====

====To acknowledge the influence of technology in the 21st century learners' lives, Alfriston College incorporated their 300 computers and 50 laptops into the classroom spaces rather than having separate computer rooms that had to be booked out weeks in advance. This allows teachers to use technology consistently and without having to plan too far in advance. (MOE, 2007) ====

 = = = = Alfriston whanau area. All classes open out into these areas which allows for break-out independent learning groups

=** Albany Senior High School ** =

 Albany Senior High School, opened in 2010, is a New Zealand state high school that incorporates e-learning into its learning space design. Each 'learning community' is set up with bench space, two meeting rooms, a seminar room and an open learning area. Each learning area has at least 15-20 computers available to students and gives them access to previously banned websites such as Facebook and Youtube.

Each learning area has furniture that can be moved around easily to cater for individual and group work needs. Students are also encouraged to bring their laptops, itouch ipods and smart phones to school as they can access the free wireless network and use their school email account to access resources such as google docs, ETV, e-portfolio, the school intranet and their very own video sharing site 'Ourtube'.

The easy accessibility to technology in the classroom enables students to see technology as a way to complement the traditional classroom teaching style. Using web-based programs like google docs allows students to access their work at home and for teachers to have contact with students in a different context. The school intranet allows the teacher to give students access to all teaching resources and to participate in online discussions.

media type="youtube" key="vZr7ZDVpPAQ?version=3" height="345" width="560" How learning space and technology work together at Albany Senior High School

 **A learning community at Albany Senior High School.** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**To the left is the work bench space and the two group-work pods (in pink).** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**At the far end of the image you can see the seminar room.** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Computers are placed around the edges of the teaching spaces.**

=<span style="color: #f23131; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em;">Remarkables Primary School =

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The school buildings at Remarkables Primary School in Queenstown are at the leading edge of 21st Century design following the principles of architect Prakesh Nair. It is his research and work that has led to the school having spaces for waterholes (meeting places for students), campfires (where adults share wisdom with the young) and caves (private and secure places) for children and adults.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The building design is based around pods, groups of four classrooms clustered around a central space. Classrooms are fully networked and set up for a variety of technology devices.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Features of a learning area at Remarkables Primary School (From Remarkables Primary School, 2011)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">ERO Report 2011 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">This extract from Remarkables Primary School 2011 ERO report, clearly demonstrates how the vision of the school has developed. Shared learning spaces are being used with ICT devices a part of learning practices throughout the day. This environment and ICT support allows students to be at the centre of their own learning, knowing, doing, understanding. The ERO team also made comment of how the school environment supports individual student needs, linking to the vision of educational architects of 21st century learning environments.