Week 12

The above images represent this weeks further look at the explore space. The top left image represents a thought that I had in regards to exploration and learning. Currently the design of the explore space has been geared around injecting the learner into the different areas of the site creating a external outward looking learning environment. This week I began to look at how technology can help the learner reach far beyond the constraints of the school site as a learning environment and help the learner engage the rest of the world. Wouldn't it be cool if the school was part of a network of schools that learn from one another. What if one week the students were learning about the history of Rome and they could go into the explore space and connect with a group in rome and have a real live walk through and interaction with that culture. The idea sort of came from the Imax theatre concept where the individual is immersed in an environement far from where they are setting. The difference here might be that instead of the student just sitting back and watching, the student could actually interact with the people giving the tour or walk. What if the individuals or group of individuals in Rome wore cameras and hand held device that the student in the explore space could link up to with a bluetooth tablet and ask questions and give comments and get real live answers. Than the next time maybe the students in Rome turn the tables and the students here in Wyoming give a tour and explain how the ranch and site works here. How much better is learning like this than reading something from a text book. The students could learn from the leading people in a certain field of study in science or what not that is not a five year old text book. I reworked the floorplan to allow for an area that would become the virtual exploration environment within the explore space. This space could also double as the large group cooperative learning environment where the small groups gather to reflect on what they've learned. I have also done some research on younger students need for small nooks and places to explore within small groups or as individuals and have tried to incorporate some raised areas above the small group environements for not only this purpose but also for group work as well where the students can again gain not only another perspective, but another space that injects them further into the site. There is a ships ladder to access this space which is good for children to climb and be active within the space. The lower right perspective shows the virual learning environment.