Agile Learning Spaces 1

Agile Learning Spaces Research Project

A VS and the-learning-crowd Project

With Pool Hayes Academy, Walsall and Academy Transformation Trust.

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The impact of specific furniture on student outcomes.

the-learning-crowd is delighted to initiate and lead on a small research project, based on the impact of specific furniture on student outcomes. We are working in conjunction with VS, the manufacturers of ‘agile’ school furniture. Their furniture designs are research led and based on supporting the physiological needs of growing bodies of young children as a way of improving concentration, engagement in learning and improved body well being.

The project launched during a study workshop tour led by the-learning-crowd. This was based at the VS factory in Tauberbischofsheim, and attended by representatives of; primary and secondary schools, major construction contractors, architects, interior designers, local authorities, international school groups, a highly regarded education commentator and Professor Peter Barratt. Sessions included valuable input from Dr. Dieter Breithecker as well as members of the group, as well as exploring how furniture can be used in the VS showrooms.

We are delighted that the Pool Hayes Academy, part of the ATT group of schools has agreed to be our research partner in this exercise, by providing a number of learning spaces to be used as test beds, including one to be used as a control option. Two rooms, teaching the same subject, taught in a similar way, will operate in totally different ways. One with traditional

furniture laid out as specified by the teacher, the other room will be full of VS ‘agile’ furniture for the students to use and move as they see fit during the lessons.

The research methodology is being designed by the-learning-crowd Senior Associate; Dr. Jenny Thomas working with the school, students and staff. Other key partners are Senior Associate Hannah Jones who is leading the project helped by Dr. Sharon Wright and Director Gareth Long. This initial booklet will continue to be developed as the project gets underway and the aim is to provide a report on the progress and outcomes of the project.

We are extremely grateful for the generous support of our partners VS in supplying the furniture for this research project, their UK representative, Henning Madsen also grateful to Nigel Scorer, Director of Contents Design for his work is assisting us in the preparation and design.

This promises to be an interesting project – we intend to report regularly of progress and any interim findings. At the end of the year, a final report will be presented.

We look forward to sharing this with you.

Thank you for your interest.

Gareth LongDirector, the-learning-crowd

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“Two rooms,teaching the same

subject, taughtin a similar way, will operate in totally

different ways. One with traditional

furniture laid out as specified by the

teacher, the other full ofVS ‘agile’ furniture for

the students touse and move as they

see fit during thelessons”.

Agile Learning SpacesProject Outline

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Why Health and Social Care? “The benefits of the VS Hokki chairs can already be seen - encouraging some students to

concentrate for longer”.

To give this the credibility it deserves, the- learning- crowd and VS decided to establish a research project, supported by professional evaluation.

ATT have been approached and asked if they were interested in taking the lead in this research through the use of a learning space in one of their academies, Pool Hayes Academy.

Pool Hayes Academy is a successful secondary academy in Walsall, West Midlands. The academy is part of Academy Transformation Trust and both the Trust Senior Directors and Pool Hayes Principal Luke Baker have been directly involved in setting up the Agile Learning Spaces research project with t-l-c and VS.

Pool Hayes Academy is a successful secondaryacademy in Walsall, West Midlands. The academy is part of Academy Transformation Trust and both the Trust Senior Directors and Pool Hayes Principal Luke Baker have been directly involved in setting up the Agile Learning Spaces research project with t-l-c and VS.

The learning area selected for the research project and as such remodeling of that area was ‘Health and Social Care’. The teacher asked to be involved in the research project is outstanding and has recently won Innovative Teacher of the Year by the Trust.

The teacher has also been heavily involved in the planning of this project and has spent great time in discussing ideas for the spaces and how she can deliver the curriculum to students in the newly planned spaces.

• To develop a greater understanding of impact furniture, fixtures and equipment has on pupils learning and health and well being

• To improve learning spaces for Health and Social Care

• To improve teaching and learning opportunities selected areas

• To involve staff and students in researching what environments will best support teaching and learning

• To record the design process

• To produce high quality materials to share best practice including a research report, case studies and video clips

• To share best practice

Health and Social Care is a vocational area of the curriculum that requires organisation of learning to include a variety of groupings and styles of teaching at learning. The current environment with desktops around outside of large classroom with desks and benches does not allow for easily moving furniture around to support learning.

Changing this area so that it is multifunctional and adaptable would have a large impact on the delivery of the curriculum and teaching and learning.

This curriculum area mainly taken by female students with a small proportion who are disaffected or have behaviour problems. Understanding the impact of the classroom environment on learning it is expected that their will be gains in learning but also in student behaviours.

Agile Learning SpacesProject Outline

The Reseach Project Intended Outcomes

the-learning-crowd, in conjunction with VS, have been exploring innovative and effective ways to explore the impact of flexible furniture solutions on learning outcomes.

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Autumn 2017Research

Questionaire Pre - instillation

InstillationResearch - Video interview

staff and students.

VS Study tour groupinvited to visit Pool Hayes

for opening.

Research Big Brotherbooth.

Spring 2018Research

Questionaire

Research - Video interviewstaff and students.

Research Big Brotherbooth.

Research - Time Lapse

Research - Analysis of Data

Sharing and Learning - Draft report produced

Summer 2018Research

Questionaire

Research - Questionaire

Research - Video interview withstaff and students

Research - Big brother boothResearch - Analysis of Data

Research - Time Lapse Sharing and Learning- Final report produced

Pre Autumn 2017

• Discussions with ATT leadership, Pool Hayes

Principal, Senior leadership and teachers

• Design Brief completed by t-l-c

• Research Brief completed by Dr Jenny

Thomas

• Contents Design complete master plan

showing three different layouts – theory,

carousel and group settings

• Pool Hayes prepare room

Agile Learning SpacesProject Timelines

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Agile Learning SpacesPool Hayes Academy

As most people in my position would say, it is an

absolute privilege to lead the Pool Hayes Academy

community at such an exciting time in the school’s

history.

In the last three years Pool Hayes has been trans-

formed and it has been an exciting time to be in

the school. We have invested heavily in the envi-

ronment – bringing some tired, rundown buildings

into the 21st century. The outcomes for our pupils in

Years 11 and 13 are now amongst the best in Walsall

and we pride ourselves on being a research based

progressive education community.

We have a simple ethos at Pool Hayes based on

Responsibility, Aspirations, Perseverance and Suc-

cess. We want each and every one of our students

to be the best they can be and they benefit from

some great teaching, strong pastoral care and high

expectations on uniform, behaviour and learning. I

promise that as a school we will never stand still but

will support, encourage and enable every member

of our community to succeed. Your children, our

children deserve the very best.

Luke BakerHead Teacher, Poole Hayes Academy

“Mary was the first choice to lead on this exciting project.

She is one of the most adaptable and hardworking

team members at Pool Hayes and we are all looking forward to the positive impact

this project will have.”

Mary Robbins has been at Pool Hayes for ten

years during which time she has led the Health

and Social Care and Child Development

courses to great effect. In recent years this

has seen massive improvements in student

outcomes, uptake of the courses she leads and

innovative approaches to learning and student

engagement.

In 2012 Mary set up a partnership with the Kiss-

ing It Better dementia charity which has gained

national recognition for the work that Pool

Hayes students now do to support the families

and sufferers of dementia. Mary and her team

are regular volunteers at Walsall Manor Hospi-

tal and have led training sessions on dealing

with this terrible and increasingly widespread

illness. In 2016 this work was recognised by the

ATT when Mary won an award for Innovation in

the Curriculum.community to succeed. Your

children, our children deserve the very best.

Luke BakerHead Teacher,

Poole Hayes Academy

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There are three stages of the Agile Learning Spaces Project. Elements of the Research

Sharing and Learning

C

Design Process

B

Research

AResearching attitudes to teaching and learning in differ-

ent learning spaces, on process to maximise potential of

environment and furniture on learning and well-being and

on how environment can support effective use of ICT to

support teaching and learning.

Looking at the process of changing learning spaces and

involvement of key stakeholders to ensure maximum

benefit to users.

Producing high quality research and best practice case studies

that can be used by schools, academies and others to show the

importance of planning learning spaces in order to realise bene-

fits to pupil and staff learning and well being.

Research BriefA

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Research Brief1.0 Aims and Introduction

The research design is a 2 x 2 between subjects design. This means that a control group of students, who are studying health and social care in another classroom, will be incorporated within the research.

Those students using the research classroom will be sub-divided into two class groups. The first group will be given no direction in relation to the new furniture and not actively encouraged to use it in any particular way. The teacher will be asked to teach as she normally would, but in this new classroom setting.

The second group will be given some direction in using the furniture, and have the flexibility and adaptability explained to them. Crucially, they will be given the permission to move around with and using the furniture.

In each half term a conversation will be held with the teacher to ensure that the research is not having a negative impact upon learning, and whether changes need to be made to the research design.

The furniture, supplied by VS, is designed to promote and allow movement whilst learning, and to be flexible to allow the layout of the space to be changed with ease. Research has been undertaken to demonstrate the importance of physical movement in learning, and furniture solutions produced by VS have been developed using the findings of the research.

In this research, we aim to gain greater understanding of the impact of remodeling the space and installing the furniture, by analysing how it is used in practice and the impact that it can have upon behaviour, and consequently learning and wellbeing.

The questions we are aiming to address are:

1. How and why does remodeling and installing furniture change the behaviour of students and staff?

2. What are the changes in behaviour?

3. What impact could, or do, these changes have upon students learning and wellbeing?

The hypotheses we have formed are

1. Remodelling the classroom and installing the furniture will influence student behaviour.

2. Remodelling the classroom and installing the furniture will influence the teaching approach.

3. Giving students permission to move around using the furniture, and adjust the location of furniture will lead to a greater range of furniture layouts observed and changes in behaviour.

4. Not giving students instruction on how to use the furniture will affect how it is used.

The research aims of the project at Pool Hayes Academy are to identify the impact of remodeling an existing classroom, particularly the installation of furniture.

2.0 Approach to Research

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Research Brief3.0 Methodological Approach

To gather insight, we recommend four different methods. Evidence will be gathered both before, during and after the changes to the classrooms, to allow for comparisons to be drawn. The four methods are; Diary Room, Time Lapse Video, Questionnaires and Interviews. These are explained below.

Using a diary room set-up, we will pose a questions to students every fortnight. At designated times a film camera will be used to film students responses to the question, in the style of the Big Brother diary room.

Students and staff, from both the research classroom and control classroom, will be asked to complete an online questionnaire. This will be both before, during and after the remodeling and installation of the furniture.

The questionaire will be brief, no more than 10 questions, and will focus on use of the learning space and behaviour, including concentration and well-being.

Within the classroom space, a video camera will be set-up to film activity in a series of ‘normal’ lessons, to be determined with the class teacher. A camera will also be set up in equivalent lessons within the control classroom.

The video footage will be analysed and behaviours noted such as moving around in chairs, sitting in specific positions, changes to the layout of the classroom, etc.

Footage will be captured both before and after the changes are made in the classroom. Permission needs to be obtained for filming of students and staff, and the set-up of the camera arranged. Footage will only be used for analysis and will not be published in relation to the research.

Staff who use the classroom, and the staff who use the control classroom, will be interviewed before, during and after the research period. These interviews will be used to establish, in more detail, the impact of the space on teaching and learning, behaviour and well-being.

Diary Room

QuestionariesTime Lapse Video

Interviews

4.0 Impact Measures

Due to the difficulty in measuring a direct impact of the furniture on learning and wellbeing, we will be monitoring behaviours, particularly those we know to have an impact upon, or signify, concentration and engagement in learning.

These will, in part, be determined through the interviews and questionnaires completed before the remodeling of the classroom.

However, they are likely to include:

• Sitting positions

• Amount students move in their seat

• Amount students move around the classroom

• Amount teacher moves around classroom

• Amount students engage with each other positively

• Amount students engage with each other negatively

• How often teacher engages with students (as a class, in groups or one to one) positively

• How often teacher engages with students (as a class, in groups or one to one) negatively

• Number of different spatial arrangements

• Frequency with which the classroom is moved around

We will also ask both students and teachers to estimate how engaged students are in learning, and how the classroom space may, or does, influence this. We will ask teachers whether the new classroom affects the way that they teach, and if so how and why.

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Design ProcessB

Design Process

1

2

3

Discussions with Leadership and Teaching Staff• Learning from current best practice and research –

including Agile Bodies, Agile Minds

• Discussions on curriculum areas, uses of spaces, student profiles and intended outcomes of project with ATT, Pool Hayes, t-l-c, VS and Dr Jenny Thomas

Complete Design Brief• Design Brief completed and discussed with Pool

Hayes leadership and teaching staff to ensure reflects discussions

• Sample layouts completed

• Chosen area prepared for Remodelling

Plan Design in Various Settings• Contents Design visit Pool Hayes to review room,

measure and discuss ideas with leadership and teaching staff

• Contents Design prepare sample layouts

• Pool Hayes and t-l-c review plans and test again ideas

• Contents Design refine ideas

4Trialing Spaces• Installation and capturing initial thoughts

• Staff and students use spaces and reflect

• Research captures staff and students views at various stages throughout year project with time lapse assisting in capturing evidence on use of spaces

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Design ProcessExample Layouts Final Designs

Circuit Setting

Theory Setting

Group Setting

Contents Design visited Pool Hayes and then produced sample layouts showing how the space and the choice of furniture provided an agile, flexible and productive working space.

Examples of Theory Setting, Circuit Setting and Group Setting.

VS teams worked on the designs further. These designed were checked with staff and leadership at Pool Hayes at all times.

Ensuring that the final environment meets the needs of staff and students at Pool Hayes

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Shared LearningC

Shared Learning

Termly Publications, Videos and Facebook

Each term we will publish an update of the work and learning taking place at Pool Hayes Academy.

Also you can keep up to date with the Agile Learning Spaces Project, watch videos of the process or chosen interviews, review spaces and furniture and contribute your thoughts and ideas by visit ing our Facebook page at:

www.facebook/agilelearningspaces

Further Reading

Bodies in Motion. Brains in Motion.by Dr. Dieter Breithecker. Dr. Dieter Breithecker is a German Health and Kinetics Scientist. He is the Head of the Federal Institute on the Development of Posture and Exercise in Germany and a member of “Ergonomics for Children & Educational Environment”.

Dr. Breithecker is widely published on the subject of Ergonomics for Children and Human Workstations. As an international expert he has been presenting all over the World.

‘Clever Classrooms’ by the University of Salford, led by Professor Peter Barratt has really stressed the impact of the environment on student outcomes in primary schools.

The Agile Learning Spaces Research Project will take place over a one-year period, from September 2017 to September 2018 at Pool Hayes Academy.

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For more information please contact Hannah Jones of the-learning-crowd

on 07795 278 532