Date of Award
8-2020
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Executive Leadership
First Supervisor
Dr. Marie Cianca
Second Supervisor
Dr. Shirley JA Green
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study, using a phenomenological design, was to examine the perspectives of seven K-12 stakeholders and to examine their understanding and experience with flexible learning environmental designs and how the stakeholders helped to support students’ sense of place. Data were collected using semi-structured one-on-one interviews. Three key findings emerged from this study. First, fluidity and connectedness allow teachers and students to transition from big more easily to medium to small spaces within a flexible instructional model. Second, flexible learning space does a better job inclusively engaging multiple student learning preferences, and third, teachers need to become champions for a change to flexible, physical learning environments. This study provided the following recommendations for research, K-12 school district and building leaders, teachers, boards of education, and state policy makers: First, K-12 school district and building leaders must provide a district-wide mission of fluidity and connectedness for inclusivity that is grounded in a sense of place to address multiple student learning preferences. Next, by using student-centered learning approaches in flexible, physical learning environments that do a better a job of reaching more students, teachers can be change agents for greater inclusivity. Lastly, boards of education need to act on administrator recommendations for physical space that promotes equitable opportunities for greater engagement, and state policy makers must welcome design solutions from architects that safely break down barriers, preventing collaboration by increasing a variety of space adjacency, fluidity, and connectedness.
Recommended Citation
Kosiorek, Joseph C., "Flexible, Physical Learning Environment Design Elements: How Do They Impact K-12 Stakeholders?" (2020). Education Doctoral. Paper 452.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/education_etd/452
Please note that the Recommended Citation provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations.