New Designs for Learning New Designs aims to significantly enhance learning results for all students throughout their life spans.
The project began in 1991 as New Designs for the Comprehensive High School, a project funded by the U.S. Department of Education and hosted by the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. Brought to Oregon State University by George Copa in 1998, the project has undergone continued refinements through its being the focus of presentations, workshops, and technical assistance to educational institutions, state and national agencies, and private foundations that are interested in implementing the design process and concepts at all education levels.
Applications of the design processes and recommendations resulting from New Designs for Learning have been made to a wide range of settings including K-12 schools, community and technical colleges, universities, and community-based training agencies.
Key design themes include:using active learning strategies
integrating subject matter areas
linking learning in school, college, and community-based settings
leveraging partnerships among educational levels and with businesses and community organizations
New Designs for Learning incorporates insights from research and development and professional practice; variations in organizational structures and settings; strategies used in other countries; imaginative ideas by futuristic educators; and collaboration among innovative teachers, policy makers, and community representatives. The resulting design recommendations equip educational leaders with new capabilities in designing learning experiences and environments.
Visit links below and see how New Designs for Learning is contributing to communities:
- Keynote presentation by George Copa at the DesignShare World Forum 2005 in Barcelona focusing on Emerging Ideas Reshaping Education. See presentation.
- Podcast of interview with George Copa on recent developments in New Designs for Learning drawing on school and college design experiences over the past few years. Listen to the podcast here.
- Updates on planning for a “Community Learning Campus” focused on learning across the lifespan and rural development for a regional community in Alberta, Canada. George Copa lead a broad based Design Group of stakeholders in the development of a Learning Plan for the Campus which served as a basis for securing funding for new facilities and technology. Visit campus web site.
- Tammy Magney, partner with Minneapolis-based ATS&R Architects and George Copa, director of New Designs for Learning, join Minnesota Public Radio in a conversation about the importance of facility design in the reform of high schools and new uses for schools that are closed through consolidation.
- Briefing on first school project drawing on New Designs for Learning design features School for Environmental Studies, Minnesota
School of Environmental Studies, Apple Valley, Minnesota - Report of planning for the future of Education as a professional field at Oregon State University lead by George Copa, as Interim Dean of Education, resulting in formation of the new School of Education as a free standing collegiate level unit (now a College) headed by a Dean. See Education Design Initiative at Oregon State University.
- Interview with George Copa, Director, New Designs for Learning on new visions for learning Northwest Education Magazine: New Visions
For more about the project, visit New Designs for Learning web site.
