Ginny Washburne presented on innovative learning environments at DENSI 2012. She discussed how the physical learning environment can influence student creativity and innovation, citing flexibility, comfort, sensory stimulation and technology as important characteristics. Washburne also emphasized the role of student well-being and goal-directed learning. Educators were encouraged to leverage physical spaces, help students flourish, and strive to improve themselves.

1. INNOVATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
GINNY WASHBURNE
@GWASHBURNE
DENSI 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

2. WELCOME!!
“WE ARE NEVER MORE CREATIVE THAN WHEN WE ARE KIDS.
THE WORLD IS NEW AND WE EXPLORE IT ALL, WIDE-EYED
AND INQUISITIVE.”
~THINK WITH GOOGLE
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

3. “I DON’T KNOW
HOW TO PUT
THIS, BUT I’M
KIND OF A BIG
DEAL.”
LET YOUR CREATIVITY FLOW
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

4. ITEMS AND EXPERTS
ITEMS- 4 GROUPS
EXPERTS- PAIRS
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

5. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE THE
ENVIRONMENTS THAT
LEAD TO UNUSUAL
LEVELS OF INNOVATION
AND CREATIVITY?
HOW CAN WE HELP ALL
STUDENTS TO FLOURISH?
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

6. I AM NOT THE EXPERT
WHERE GOOD IDEAS COME FROM
FLOURISH
STOP STEALING DREAMS
INFLUENCER
A NEW CULTURE OF LEARNING
INSANELY SIMPLE
LEARNING SPACES (EDUCAUSE)
TED TALKS, WEBSITES, FRIENDS &
FAMILY
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

7. AGENDA:
1. ENVIRONMENT
2. STUDENTS
3. YOU
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

8. “THE MOMENT STUDENTS ENTER ..THE
SPACE INFORMS THEM ...ABOUT THE
TYPE OF LEARNING THE
ENVIRONMENT WILL FOSTER.”
~ GLENBROOK NORTH HS
ENVIRONMENT
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

9. INTENTIONALLY CREATED SPACES:
1. FLEXIBILITY
2. COMFORT
3. SENSORY STIMULATION
4. TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
5. DECENTEREDNESS
6. COLOR (WIRED.COM)
SPACE AS A CHANGE AGENT
EDUCAUSE LEARNING SPACE DESIGN RESEARCH
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

10. WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
“CHANCE FAVORS THE CONNECTED MIND.”
STEVEN B. JOHNSON
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

11. LEVERAGING SURFACE AND SPACE
HALLWAY
FLOOR
WINDOW
SIDEWALK
LUNCH ROOM
TABLE
WALL
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

12. STUDENTS
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

13. IN 1-2 WORDS
WHAT DO YOU
WANT MOST FOR WHAT DO SCHOOLS TEACH?
YOUR STUDENTS?
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

14. YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER...
UNLESS YOU SALT THE HAY
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

15. ALL LEARNING IS GOAL DIRECTED
“Somewhere along the way, many students get lost…they shut off their natural
learning instincts… they study, they pass tests, and eventually their love of
learning is gone….a real goal has been replaced by pleasing the teacher, or getting
a good grade.”
~Teaching Minds
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

16. EMOTIONS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
= =
ENDORPHINS CORTISOL
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

17. MANAGING STRESS
STRATEGIES TO HELP KIDS FLOURISH
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

18. TEACHING WELLBEING
FLOURISH
3:1 RATIO
3 GOOD THINGS
OPTIMISM
SELF-DISCIPLINE
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

19. THE GIFT OF TIME
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

20. INNOVATION TIME OFF
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

21. COMMUNITY
A NEW CULTURE OF LEARNING
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

22. YOU
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

23. CORE HABITS
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

24. MANAGING YOUR ENERGY FLOW
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

25. INTERESTINGNESS
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

26. INTERESTINGNESS
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

27. PLAYING CATCH
INSANELY SIMPLE
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

28. REFLECT
1.HOW WILL YOU LEVERAGE THE
PHYSICAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT?
2. HOW WILL YOU HELP YOUR STUDENTS
FLOURISH?
3. HOW WILL YOU STRIVE TO BE THE BEST
VERSION OF YOURSELF?
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

29. THANK YOU!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012

30. IMAGES AND RESOURCES:
HTTP://PRACTICALENRICHMENT.WORDPRESS.COM/2011/07/20/THE-ALLURE-OF-A-COFFEE-SHOP/
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/PHILSCOVILLE/2395591985/SIZES/L/IN/PHOTOSTREAM/
WWW.FLICKR.COM/CREATIVECOMMONS
Tuesday, July 24, 2012