UNDER DEVELOPMENT: Kind Design Toolkit

A new Kind Design toolkit is intended as a dynamic resource for learners and educators to collaborate on the co-design of educational spaces.

The toolkit will contain sets of symbols which aim to make the principles of learning space design accessible to a wide range of users by creating a shared visual language. The symbols have been developed in collaboration with teachers and pupils, educators and designers to promote exploring and testing learning spaces and piloted in previous research projects. The toolkit consists of three sets of symbols – Learning Typologies, Learning Design Values, and Learning Design Factors.

 

Studies in Shared Learning Spaces (collaboration with ADS Scotland)

This publication was developed by the SLS Team and Architecture and Design Scotland (ADS). It outlines the ADS Test of Change model, which is based on a four-step action enquiry model – Plan, Do, Study, Act.

Here you will find six case studies of primary and secondary schools in Scotland going through the process with their staff and pupils.

Access the resource here.

 

DGC logo

 

Our Shared Learning Toolkit – Architecture Design Scotland (ADS)

This collection of learning space design and assessment tools is based on shared design principles that were developed collaboratively by teams at Architecture and Design Scotland and our Shared Learning Spaces team at the University of Edinburgh, working with schools and other stakeholders.

The ADS Shared Learning Toolkit has a range of downloadable infographics, videos and guides to help develop a language around what works and what doesn’t work in creating and adapting learning spaces.

Access the resource here

 

Learning Space Design Activities for Pupils and Students

These activities, developed by the SLS Team, have been used by Secondary Schools, College students and University students to explore learning space design and the impact of space on learning. It sets out a series of tasks that can be completed as part of two or more workshops, with the aim of young people acting as ‘Responsible Activists’ and pioneers through the creation of their own designs of learning spaces. A summary of the activities is as follows:

  • Discuss the principles of learning space design, the role of young people in relation to the project, and what it means to be a ‘Responsible Activist.’
  • Create a ‘diamond 9,’ prioritising the elements of learning space design that are seen to be most important to the individual and groups.
  • View a bank of images showing a wide range of different learning spaces and discuss preferences and the reasons for this.
  • Reflect on what makes a good learning space, how space can impact on learning, and research own examples of learning spaces.
  • Discuss and select the ‘values’ that are most important to young people in their learning spaces, using the SLS Toolkit Values and their own school’s values as references.
  • Explore the Learning Space Typologies from the SLS Toolkit, what these different ‘types’ of learning look like in their current spaces, and how they might be integrated in their designs.
  • Begin to sketch out initial ideas and designs for a learning space.

Workshop 1 Resources

Workshop 2 Resources