When educators and designers get together to write a book on learning spaces, amazing things happen. Many books on learning space design focus on lots of gorgeous photos of expensively renovated school environments, language to use with architects or projects that are amazing, but not always easy to replicate. The Space takes a different approach. … Read more
Click on over to AASL Knowledge Quest to read the full post, or scroll down to read a summary. [W]e can create more space in our library by getting rid of un-needed shelving, tables, and other furniture… [T]he space can feel cleaner and fresher by changing up the decor. But sometimes, making these changes in … Read more
“[I]magine how your students feel when they walk into your learning space. Are there comfortable seating options available? Is there a good variety to support both groups and individuals? Or are all the chairs uncomfortable and crammed tightly together?” In my post for AASL Knowledge Quest, I share the stories of two different airport experiences. … Read more
I’ve been studying library space design a lot the last few months. I’m currently working on a book for ISTE, tentatively titled Reimagining Library Spaces, that will be out sometime in the fall. As I’ve been going through research, I thought it would be great to share some of my favorite learning space design books … Read more
When I first built our Epic LEGO wall back in Sepetember 2014, I had no idea how much the concept would resonate with people. Since then, I’ve seen dozens of amazing LEGO walls and variations of LEGO walls (including several in Canada!). I’ve seen people create mobile walls, walls that can covert into tables, LEGO circulation … Read more
From the Campfire to the Holodeck (2014) is David Thornburg’s updated work on his theory of the primordial learning metaphors and how they fit in with today’s modern educational spaces. I’m currently researching and writing for book #2, which will be about learning space design and libraries (more info soon). In just about every book … Read more
Figuring out how to get (and keep) your makerspace organized can be a daunting task. I don’t claim to have a magical organization system that works perfectly 100% of the time. But I have learned a few things about keeping our space organized over the last three years. Here’s my advice: How to Create Makerspace … Read more
Just as our lives need tidying up from time to time, so do our libraries. Decluttering the library can be daunting at first, but it’s totally worth it. Here’s some more on why we should tidy up: The Magic of Tidying Up Your Library: An AASL Post I read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying … Read more
Why I love Copernicus Carts In setting up a makerspace in my media center, I’m constantly on the lookout for effective, flexible storage solutions for the myriad of supplies we have. I think I’ve found one of the best ones out there in Copernicus. I started with one Book Browser Cart (similar to this one) … Read more
(Post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using them, I get a small commission that helps support running this blog) How to Create a Floorplan in Excel Confession time: I’m a slight spreadsheet nerd. My dad worked for IBM and I remember seeing him working on spreadsheets on our home computer at a … Read more