Major Integrated Project

25 January 2011

ACADEMIC BLOCK 1_ 2ND YEAR ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGY COURSE AT CPUT_INTRODUCTION

The Centre for Multigrade Education ( http://www.cmge.co.za/ )  approached you, on behalf of the principal of St. Michael’s Primary School in Elgin, Mr Davids, to make a proposal to remodel the existing classroom spaces of the school, to support their new multigrade teaching methodology.

The multigrade philosophy involves collaborative learning where learners (of different grades, but in one classroom) learn, not only from their teacher, but also from each other. The communication therefore happens in ways other than the teacher projecting to the learners (in a linear format). The current classrooms are designed for the latter methodology. There’s not enough space to allow for group work, and creating activity areas e.g. a science corner, reading corner, etcetera.

They have the idea to construct a mezzanine level in each classroom to free up the ground plane. But they need your design input to maximize the investment. The intervention must be efficient,  cost effective and sustainable and add to the quality of teaching and learning.

Your visit to the site will allow time to clarify the brief and gather background information. You will make sketches, take photographs, talk to the staff and learners, and gather information on the:

Context_site layout, current building configuration, observe and measure up the current classroom layouts, climate etc.

function_learner behaviour, speak to the teachers and principal, observe the current furniture and equipment etc., and

technology_observe the local vernacular, building methods, list the available resources and possible sponsors etc.

Aim: to create “a school facility that creates a healthy environment that is conducive to learning while saving energy, resources and money.” (Dr Jurie Joubert, 2010)

The learning facilities must support the new learning school pedagogy as designed and implemented by the  multigrade philosophy and methodology – towards implementing the so-called “New Learning Schools”.

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This brief is provisional and may change at any time. Please refer to separate project documents for program and detail. Also check the facebook page and subject blog, at least every second day.