AAF to Convene National Summit in NYC on Technology in Schools

Schoolhouse 3.0
Designing Educational Facilities for 21st Century Technologies and Curriculums
A National Summit

Advances in digital and telecommunication technologies have transformed the way students communicate with each other, how they access and process information, and how they interact with their environment in the first decade of the 21st century. Yet most public schools lag behind: in their design, their teaching philosophy, and the way they prepare students for success in the world beyond the classroom. Few schools are designed to leverage the full promise of technology in improving student achievement.

The American Architectural Foundation (AAF) asserts that a cross-disciplinary dialogue will bring new perspective to this challenge. AAF will convene Schoolhouse 3.0: Designing Educational Facilities for 21st Century Technologies and Curriculums in New York City. For three days, October 7-9, 2009, this invitation-only summit will bring together leading architects, educators, technology experts, thought leaders, and decision-makers from the Los Angeles and New York school systems. The goal: to envision a new generation of learning environments designed for the digital future.

The summit will seek answers to urgent questions. How do we successfully and seamlessly integrate technology into the curriculum and into the learning environment? How can the building be designed to take advantage of rapid technological change? How should educators respond to the promise of technology and the demand for innovation in the classroom?

The summit will be an open exchange of ideas, information and experience among key stakeholders at the intersection of technology, education and the built environment. Participants will collaborate in producing these outcomes:

• Practical strategies to help school districts integrate technology into the learning environment.
• Recommendations for a holistic approach to planning, designing and constructing educational facilities that integrate 21st century technologies and curriculums.
• A report synthesizing the findings and recommendations of the Summit, disseminated to national and international stakeholders in the fields of education, school design and technology.
• A greater understanding of the power of innovative design solutions to enhance learning.

Billions of dollars will be spent on technology in schools in the coming decades. Before these funds are spent, it is imperative that school districts have a clear vision for school buildings and learning environments that truly prepare students for the workplace of tomorrow.

The National Summit on Designing Public Schools for 21st Century Technologies and Curriculums is part of AAF’s Great Schools by Design, a national initiative of the American Architectural Foundation that seeks to improve the quality of America’s schools and the communities they serve by promoting collaboration, excellence and innovation in school design. Throughout the country, Great Schools by Design engages superintendents, architects, teachers, parents, residents, students, local government officials, and other stakeholders in a far-reaching conversation about what must be done to improve the places where children and young adults learn. We strive to help create schools that both support student achievement and serve as centers of community. Great Schools by Design is made possible by presenting sponsor Target.

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