2017 Mid-Year Conference Highlights

Why Space Matters for Learning

October 20, 2017 | Frederick County Middle School, Winchester, VA

The Mid-Year Conference, Why Space Matters for Learning, was held on Friday, October 20, 2017 at Frederick County Middle School in Winchester, VA.

The school is organized as a trio of learning-houses, separated by outdoor learning courts, connected by a Learning Commons and a public wing housing several programs including administration, music, athletics, CTE, performance, and dining. The learning houses are made up of nine “learning communities” designed to promote a sense of identity while supporting interdisciplinary, collaborative, one-to-one, and self-guided learning. Recognizing the pull of high energy, see-and-be-seen venues for middle schoolers, transparency into these spaces puts learning on display, sparking curiosity and enticing students to explore their passions. A robust environmental graphics package promotes wayfinding and provides valuable information that supports the curriculum and leverages the building as a teaching tool.