Outdoor theatre / teaching space

In the summertime, when the weather is fine... how about we teach classes outside?

What if our picnic tables could be set up so the space could also be used effectively during classtime?

What about an amphitheatre for outdoor performances?

Any ideas?

Parking

What do we want?

Aboriginal Education

How do we express pride in our host nation's heritage and make the future exciting for all students?

Student Services

_____ classrooms + _____ offices + _____ meeting rooms + storage room + kitchen + bathroom + shower + laundry room + ...?

Needs vs. wishes?

=====================

We already agree:

We need a central location because our students deal with every single department.

We need to be close to counsellors and administrators and, depending where Ab Ed needs to be, we'd love to be close to them, too!

We cannot interrupt a confidential meeting or a testing session to get into our offices.

We need lots of storage, and a space, either here or in the staff room, for staff lockers.

Our space needs to feel safe and comfortable to be a haven for the more vulnerable students.

Sports fields & tennis courts

Absolute non-negotiable needs vs. sweet dreams?

Article: we need lots of windows

PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

Research Report

The Cognitive Benefits of

Interacting With Nature

Marc G. Berman,1,2 John Jonides,1 and Stephen Kaplan1,3

1Department of Psychology, 2Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering, and 3Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan 

(...)

Attention restoration theory (ART; Kaplan, 1995, 2001) offers a novel approach to identifying and restoring a cognitive mechanism. ART is based on past research showing the separation of attention into two components: involuntary attention, where attention is captured by inherently intriguing or important stimuli, and voluntary or directed attention, where attention is directed by cognitive-control processes.  


(...)

According to ART, interacting with environments rich with inherently fascinating stimuli (e.g., sunsets) invoke involuntary attention modestly, allowing directed-attention mechanisms a chance to replenish (Kaplan, 1995). That is, the requirement for directed attention in such environments is minimized, and at- tention is typically captured in a bottom-up fashion by features of the environment itself. So, the logic is that, after an interaction with natural environments, one is able to perform better on tasks that depend on directed-attention abilities. Unlike natural en- vironments, urban environments contain bottom-up stimulation (e.g., car horns) that captures attention dramatically and addi- tionally requires directed attention to overcome that stimulation (e.g., avoiding traffic, ignoring advertising, etc.), making urban environments less restorative.

Previous research has provided support for the hypothesis that interactions with nature improve attention and memory (Berto, 2005; Cimprich, 1992, 1993; Cimprich & Ronis, 2003; Faber 1207Taylor, Kuo, & Sullivan, 2002; Hartig et al., 2003; Ottosson & Grahn, 2002; Tennessen & Cimprich, 1995). 

(...)

The picture- type-by-time interaction was of most interest and was found reliable only for the executive portions of the ANT, indicating that exposure to pictures of nature led to more improved executive attention performance than did exposure to urban pictures.

(...)

In sum, we have shown that simple and brief interactions with nature can produce marked increases in cognitive control. To consider the availability of nature as merely an amenity fails to recognize the vital importance of nature in effective cognitive functioning.

Full article:

http://dericbownds.net/uploaded_images/Berman_cog.pdf 

Staff room

For each item, circle your preferred choice, scratch what you don’t want, indicate details or better alternatives in the space provided. 

Highlight the really vital stuff. Need more room? Create your own document!

1. The room

Furniture: 

Storage: 

Windows: yes big / small blinds: 

Special doors? 

Sink / Washroom / Shower 

Meeting rooms  

Particular security features?  

2. Technology:

video projector / TV / smartscreen

computers: laptops  desktops PC / Mac

other items:  

3. Location:

ground level / first floor / second floor

near  department(s)

central: yes / no / whatever

near admin: yes / no / whatever

near counselling: yes / no / whatever

near library: yes / no / whatever

near computer lab: yes / no / whatever

near exit: yes / no / whatever

near washrooms: yes / no / whatever

4. Other:

Cafeteria / concession / kiosks / student living

1. Discuss: 


How can we invite community partners to sell stuff in the building without hurting our own programs and fund-raising efforts?

2. How do we provide students with a space that is truly theirs while making sure everyone is safe and respectful?

3. Other ideas?

Look / Atmosphere

How do we make the place ours ?

Counselling

For each item, circle your preferred choice, scratch what you don’t want, indicate details or better alternatives in the space provided. 

Highlight the really vital stuff. Need more room? Create your own document!

1. Offices:

Furniture: needs mobility? yes / no

blackboards / whiteboards

Storage: 

Windows: yes / no big / small blinds: 

Special doors? 

Sink / Washroom / Shower 

Meeting / conference rooms  

Particular security features?  

2. Technology:

video projector / TV / smartscreen

computers: laptops  desktops PC / Mac

other items:  

3. Location:

ground level / first floor / second floor

near  department(s)

central: yes / no / whatever

near admin: yes / no / whatever

near library: yes / no / whatever

near computer lab: yes / no / whatever

near exit: yes / no / whatever

near washrooms: yes / no / whatever

4. Career centre

Administration

For each item, circle your preferred choice, scratch what you don’t want, indicate details or better alternatives in the space provided. 

Highlight the really vital stuff. Need more room? Create your own document!

1. Offices:

Furniture: 

Storage: 

Windows: yes / no big / small blinds: 

Special doors? 

Sink / Washroom / Shower 

Meeting / conference / detention rooms  

Particular security features?  

2. Technology:

video projector / TV / smartscreen

computers: laptops  desktops PC / Mac

other items:  

3. Printing room:

4. Location:

ground level / first floor / second floor

near  department(s)

central: yes / no / whatever

near counselling: yes / no / whatever

near library: yes / no / whatever

near computer lab: yes / no / whatever

near exit: yes / no / whatever

near washrooms: yes / no / whatever

5. Other:

PE Department

For each item, circle your preferred choice, scratch what you don’t want, indicate details or better alternatives in the space provided. 

Highlight the really vital stuff. Need more room? Create your own document!

1. Gym(s) :

Bleachers:

Storage needs:

Windows: yes / no big / small blinds: 

Special doors? 

Offices:

Change rooms:

Equipment:

Particular security features?  

2. Technology:

scoring board

sound system

video projector / TV / smartscreen

other items:  

3. Location:

near  department(s)

4. Outside:

5. Other:

"Regular" classrooms

_____________________ Department

For each item, circle your preferred choice, scratch what you don’t want, indicate details or better alternatives in the space provided. 

Highlight the really vital stuff. Need more room? Create your own document!

1. Classrooms:

Furniture: needs mobility? yes / no

desks / tables / workstations

chairs / stools

blackboards / whiteboards

Storage: storage needs?  low / average / huge 

shelves / cupboards

in each room / one storage room for the whole department

Windows: yes / no big / small blinds: 

Special doors? 

Office: in each room / by department

Meeting / practice room(s)? 

Sink / Washroom / Shower 

Particular security features?  

2. Technology:

video projector / TV / smartscreen

computers: laptops  desktops PC / Mac

other items:  

3. Location:

ground level / first floor / second floor

near  department(s)

central: yes / no / whatever

near admin: yes / no / whatever

near counselling: yes / no / whatever

near library: yes / no / whatever

near computer lab: yes / no / whatever

near washrooms: yes / no / whatever

close / direct exit: yes / no / whatever

4. Other: