Promoting Engagement

Like many of you, I am looking forward to the close of 2009 and the start of 2010. This past year has presented many of you with quite a few challenges, from increases in tuition costs, to decreases in investment income, to a lack of funding that forced instructor and administrator layoffs and budget cuts in areas like class size, field trips, bus transportation, deferred maintenance, and facility construction. Hopefully the reports that the recession is over are correct and 2010 will be a better year for all.

Despite the negative effects of the economy, the one factor that has helped students thrive in school this past year is an increased emphasis being placed on engagement. On the college level, there is growing participation in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), an annual questionnaire by Indiana University researchers to help colleges assess and improve student learning. NSSE doesn’t directly measure learning, the end goal, but it does measure student engagement, and research shows that students who actively participate are more likely to learn.

Engagement is fostered in many ways. It is about building connections — students to teachers, students to students, students to community. The use of technology and its integration into educational spaces encourages connection. On a personal level, technology improves communication — student to student and student to teacher. The integration of technology into the classroom also facilitates teamwork and group interaction.

The physical space also plays a role in creating an environment that supports building connections and facilitating active and collaborative learning. This past year I was fortunate enough to serve on a number of architectural award juries. A common factor amongst the award-winning facilities was flexible space that encouraged student engagement. These spaces all supported the concept of learning-centered education, were extremely flexible, and included movable furniture to support unlimited teaching and learning configurations. The ability to rearrange the environment allowed students to own the space, not just occupy it.

One of my favorite quotes has always been “Form ever follows function,” coined in 1896 by American architect Louis Sullivan. But this next year I think we should all switch to a quote I heard used by Sam Miller, a colleague of mine, “Form follows engagement.” As the economy improves and new construction begins, keep spaces that promote engagement in mind!




Featured

  • Spaces4Learning Announces Winners of 2025 Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2025 Product Awards! The award program recognizes innovation and excellence in products that enhance learning environments in K–12 schools and institutions of higher education.

  • K–12 Safety Trends Report Reveals Reliance on Training, Technology

    Wearable safety technology provider CENTEGIX recently released its 2025 School Safety Trends Report, according to a news release. The report is based on more than 265,000 incidents during the 2024–25 school year as reported through the CENTEGIX Safety Platform, used by more than 800 school districts across the U.S.

  • Pangram Secures Funding for AI Detection Technology

    Pangram, which provides technology that detects AI-generated text, recently announced that it has secured nearly $4 million in pre-seed and seed funding, according to a news release. The most recent round of investments, totaling $2.7 million, come on top of the pre-existing seed fund of $1.25 million.

  • bar graph with the bars made out of abstract cinder blocks and other construction materials

    Spaces4Learning 2025 Trends in K–12: Materials & Construction

    With 2025 well underway, it’s time to take a look at some broader trends submitted by you, our Spaces4Learning readership. We asked for your thoughts on topics like classroom design, health & safety, materials & construction, and technology in both K–12 and higher-education environments. Below is a roundup of 2025 trends in K–12 materials and construction from the experts in the trenches.

Digital Edition