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Actual vs Perceived
(UK) Sometimes I come across a story which has me shaking my head—not in disagreement but more in disbelief that they aren't doing it already…
The non-profit School Works, which advises the government on designs for school buildings, says participation is key for practical, sustainable schools.
"It's time for the government to place mandatory participation at the heart of every design, build or refurbishment contract in the education sector."
My first response was not 'yes they should be' but more 'you mean they aren't already'?
I don't know enough about the curriculum to judge fully but I have friends who are teachers and work with young people who all tell me how 'shit' school is in terms of engaging them and integrating their views. There are so many other factors to do with learning/teaching styles, individual interests, budgetary restraints, curriculum focus etc. but you'd think that the design of a school, which will cater for thousands upon thousands of young people over its lifetime, would have the users participating heavily in it's design?
In my previous public sector roles I devised and developed many youth consultations across a varied array of topics but also coordinated countless projects which enabled young people to participate fully—all my work was, and still is, based on the old 'Ladder of Participation', which provides a framework for oyuth participation. Based on this, current school design and its process is firmly on the bottom rungs, but just imagine what would happen if it moved up?
What if you created a school in which many of its elements (such as the walls, furniture and lighting-just having white walls and coloured bulbs would give you so much flexibility) was inter-changeable so that every year the setting would morph to the needs and wishes of the pupils?
Let's tie this up with another mantra of mine—when young people are involved design and delivery of services (or anything for that matter) you then design and deliver for the actual rather than the perceived!
If this stuff 'floats-your-boat' then check out the ThinkLab blog.
BBC article link: Call to ask pupils about design
Filed by DK on November 30 2005
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