ERIC Number: EJ774202
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Dec
Pages: 6
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0003-0945
EISSN: N/A
Modern Thinking
Kennedy, Mike
American School & University, p16-18, 21-23 Dec 2006
New facilities at schools and universities are being designed that embrace the latest learning techniques and philosophies. The article describes two facilities that exemplify this trend: Thomas Jefferson Hall at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and Cass Technical High School library in Detroit, Michigan. Libraries, once thought of as storehouses of the written word, have morphed into multimedia, interactive learning centers. The Thomas Jefferson Hall is designed to have more functions than a traditional library, including being a center for students to meet and work together. It also has media rooms, computer rooms, collaborative spaces, and is able to accommodate wired and wireless technology. It also houses West Point's Center for Teaching Excellence, where test classrooms are set up to try new technologies or techniques. Jefferson Hall emphasizes sustainable strategies in its design and construction for which it achieved a bronze rating under the Army's Sustainable Project Rating Tool (SPiRiT) program. In Detroit, district officials decided to erect a new Cass Tech to meet the educational needs of today's students. It is designed for easier and safer entrance and exits. The facility incorporates such sustainable features as daylighting. A sidebar article observes a national trend of making schools smaller, which tends to improve school attendance and performance, decrease violence and misbehavior, and result in more satisfied teachers.
Descriptors: Teaching Methods, Educational Needs, School Libraries, Attendance, Needs Assessment, Educational Change, Military Schools, Higher Education, Educational Facilities Design, Small Schools, Quality of Life, Interior Space, Classroom Design, School Space, Urban Schools
Prism Business Media Inc. American School & University, P.O. Box 2100, Skokie, IL 60076-7800. Tel: 866-505-7173; Fax: 847-763-9682; e-mail: americanschooluniversity@pbinews.com; Web site: http://www.prismb2b.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: High Schools; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Michigan; New York; United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A