Flip this Classroom 2008: Environments Matter!

Many educators ponder the best way to determine how to meet the needs of their learners. They wonder how they will be able to meet the needs of a number of learners in each of their classes throughout the day. While this topic is often debated in the journals, sometimes the most simplistic answer turns out to be the best and most efficient – ask them! At Lakeland Central School District in northern Westchester County, New York, that’s just what we did – we asked them! We asked the students what their preferences were with regard to how they best learn new and difficult information. We asked our more than 6,000 students how they learn best and we listened to what they said! Through learning-style—grade appropriate—web-based surveys (www.learningstyles.net) based on the Dunn and Dunn Learning Style Model, we determined the best environments for our learners and encouraged teachers to rearrange their classrooms to meet the needs of learners.

Call it the feng shui of education, which is matching learning environments to students' learning strengths and preferences. Research shows that redesigning environments to match learners' preferences result in increased achievement and improved attitudes and behavior. When considering a school's learning environment, the Dunn and Dunn Learning Styles model takes into consideration how the elements of sound, light, temperature and design hinder or stimulate learning. When teachers set in motion the implementation of learning-styles strategies in the classroom, the most desirable way to begin is by matching the environment to their learners’ preferences.

When thinking about learning-style environments, teachers should consider those students who need sound or quiet, bright or softly illuminated lights, formal or informal seating, and warmer or cooler temperatures. In considering classroom design, teachers also must consider the Sociological preferences, which include learning alone, with a peer, in a group or with an adult nearby. Additionally, it makes sense to consider students' perceptual strengths. These include visual (seeing), tactual (learning by manipulating with the hands), auditory (listening), and kinesthetic (requiring movement to process) strengths. Finally, when designing classrooms, teachers will want to consider those students who require mobility (needing to move every so often) when learning new information. At this point, it is abundantly clear that environments really do matter!

While many teachers focused on environmental elements in their classrooms district wide at Lakeland Central School District, one school in particular received the royal treatment. Working together, American Schoolhouse Council (ASC), Performance Concepts International (PCI), and SIS-USA (SIS) selected Van Cortlandtville Elementary School; to become the recipient in 2008 of the Flip this Classroom project.

In the spirit of the ABC television series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", three classrooms were completely redone from the walls, to the windows and from the floors to the furniture. This was a project that began with the idea that environments mattered, and ended with a commitment by ASC, PCI, and SIS and Lakeland Central School District joining together to make this dream a reality. During the week of vacation, a nine-member team descended upon Van Cortlandtville Elementary School arriving from all parts of the United States to begin the project. At the same time, a special shipment of furniture specifically designed and developed by SIS (leading the future in learning and working environments) based on the Dunn and Dunn Learning Styles Model (up.grade) arrived from Denmark along with additional classroom essentials. PCI is a company focused on improving performance in educational and work-based learning environments. SIS-USA is a company that focuses on selling solutions and providing services. Along with ASC, PCI and SIS, Interlocke donated carpet tiles, Lutron donated and installed lighting systems and an Audio Enhancement donated a system. SIS also donated the NFS Wall System, which is a multi-level whiteboard on one side and tack board on the other. It can be hung at teacher or student height. Tactual/Kinesthetic learners love learning at the white boards. Students also may place the white board flat on the floor for those students who prefer informal environments.

Needless-to-say the transformation of these 3 classrooms, and the implementation of learning styles, was awe-inspiring. It has been abundantly clear to many for years that teaching to the diversity of student learning styles matters. After the "Flip This Classroom" experience the team was convinced that environments matter for many reasons, which includes to inspire young minds to dream more and become more.