School+Design,+learning&development+project

====In order to demonstrate your understanding of learning, memory, and concepts of development, you and your team will be designing a school that is based on research about these topics where students look forward to learning and going to school.====

====You are creating the ideal public school in MA. Things that you can't change in your school because they are federally or state funding mandates include: Minimum 180 days a school year, 6 hours a day minimum of classroom instruction (this does not include passing time or lunch), 4 years of English, 3 years of math, 3 years of health/physical education, history 3, science 3, foreign language 2, and a minimum of 8 other semesters of something. DOE requirements====

====This project can be collected into a shared google presentation, done by hand, or any combination thereof. For the presentation, you need to have some things hard copy so that people can see what you are talking about, please keep that in mind.====

**Physical 25%**
====How will the structure of the school help learning? What will your school look like on the inside? classroom size, seating/desks, physical layout of the building, how far from place to place, windows, nature, space for talking, meeting, bathrooms, is space dedicated to different subjects or are all classrooms used for all things? Technology? will there be bells for class changes, how long will students have to walk? How can handicapped/differently-abled students get around? How can all students feel respected? read this!====

Interesting article on feng shui in the classroom that might help: [|edutopia]
Please see the pinterest link on the main page for interesting images of existing public schools.

**Structural 25%**
====Based on what you learned about sleep, learning, memory, and the brain: How will the schedule operate? How long will classes be, how many a day, do they overlap, how much choice do students get? Lunch? How many days a week? Back yourself up as much as you can with the research we discussed in class and that you read in articles/the text. Please refer to all of these units for ideas here. Can you combine classes? English/history for one long block? Science/Math? What classes would you be excited to take? If you are not a fan of BHS's schedule, then don't inflict it on your hypothetical students. Think outside the box, or consider how research says that you learn best and design based on that. Include your mission statement (the goal and driving reason for your school), have a reason for your name, and be able to clearly articulate these.====

====You will be creating a model course catalog: you should list most if not all of the courses offered, create a daily/weekly schedule and a hypothetical full 9-12 schedule for one random student. Explain your ideas for how your school will create a positive learning environment that is based on the research you have been learning about in the sleep and brain units. This section will have the heading "Structural" for your project.====

Based on what you learned about **learning** and **memory**, what techniques should teachers use? How and what types of homework, projects, tests should be assigned? When should they be assigned?
====How will your school meet the needs of the students developmentally? You must do something to help freshmen survive the transition from 8th to 9th. You must do something to make the second half of senior year meaningful.====