Abstract

Recent approaches suggest buildings are not static objects but always on the move, continuously modified and transformed through ongoing inhabitation. This raises important questions for educational research.

This seminar will discuss methodological concepts that might help us grapple with the questions raised by an understanding of educational space as a ‘continuous mode of becoming’, with four speakers presenting ongoing research to get the conversation started:

Eva Zepp (Faculty of Culture & Communication, Zeppelin University) Eva’s research seeks to examine to what extent the increased awareness of participatory processes in school architecture is shaped or even generated by visual staging strategies. She will take us on the walking interviews she conducted, discuss the methodology and initial findings.

Dominic Cullinan (SCABAL Architects, London) Dominic is a practicing Architect and will discuss SCABAL ’s recent research and work with a secondary school in London.

Tom Bellfield (Faculty of Education, Cambridge University) Tom’s research investigates the educational potential of spatial design practice as a means to negotiate place within primary and secondary schools. He will discuss research undertaken with the University of Cambridge Primary School.

Karolina Szynalska (Faculty of Education, Cambridge University) Karolina’s research explores the relationship between design and pedagogical practice. She will discuss her user of a bespoke tablet application to explore the relationship between pupils’ engagement in learning and spatial affordances in four English secondary schools.