A4E Futures Conference

A4E

dreamTeam

EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM

A4E’S FUTURES CONFERENCE A Futures Conference is a District-wide planning session, involving representation from all stakeholders in the District.

The planning workshops take place in a one or two day session consisting of hands on activities and presentations from futurists, educational, technology, and environmental leaders from around the country.

During the Futures Conference, we work together to identify resources within the community and surrounding cities that can maximize educational opportunities for all students.

These resources connect students with long term mentors or apprenticeships by setting up or assisting local businesses.

This process broadens the experiences of each District member, community, planning committee members, and even local business leaders by encouraging them to seek out creative and appropriate planning options. It provides a strong foundation to establish a sense of continuity for all District projects by connecting them to the District’s Strategic Plan.

A Futures Conference develops specific goals for continuing, flexible programmatic and facilities development. A sampling of goal-related topics are: • Grade-level Structure • School Size • Community Involvement • Education Manifestation Opportunities • Partnerships with Businesses and Other Institutions • K-12 Learning Environment

PROCESS OVERVIEW

FUTURE

EDUCATION

PROCESS

FUTURIST

ED THEORY

DISTRICT SUCCESSES CHALLENGES

COMMUNITY CHANGES OPPORTUNITIES

EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT CHALLENGES

FACILITIES

LEARNING TOOL

ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES / DISTRICT NEEDS

dreamTEAM SYMPOSIUM On March 2009, A4E gathered a group of innovative colleagues for a two-day brainstorming symposium. Together, we discussed and explored the future of educational facilities.

A4E has a long-standing association with this group of education-related professionals known as the “dreamTeam”.

The deamTeam is comprised of experts in educational funding, programming, design, and pedagogy. Members consult with clients and education-based groups across the country, considering the big picture, then narrowing the communitybased focus for an individualized result with each client.

To date, this group of education professionals has helped us create signature learning opportunities including, a university classroom for teacher training on elementary campuses, a campus-wide Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) curriculum utilizing every indoor and outdoor space, small cross-curricular learning communities functioning within the context of a comprehensive high school, and a county superintendent’s office sharing a campus with a separate high school.

The A4E dreamTeam Symposium explores how efficient school design can best serve our students in the 21st century.

We developed long-term goals to bring positive change to education-based design and policies throughout our country.

BENEFITS OF THE FUTURES CONFERENCE We have conducted this process for a number of school districts including, El Monte City School District, Dry Creek School District, and Jurupa Unified School District, where the conclusions from the Futures Conference provided impetus for the passage of a local general obligation bond and the successful construction of numerous new and renovated facilities.

One of our Futures Conferences resulted in a consensus to preserve a historic private airport instead of demolishing it.

The project converted the facility into an aviation-based high school, open to local at-risk students. This project conforms to all California state graduation requirements while promoting the mechanical and aviation professions.

This process also provided a clear facilities and program direction that informed the successful passage of El Monte City School District’s bond in 2014. Student input assisted in identifying key issues and solutions for their project-based programs at each campus.

The benefits realized from a Futures Conference are the clarity of understanding your District’s current and future educational needs, and exploring the abundant resources available to you.

Education Manifestation

EDUCATIONAL MANIFESTATIONS

ARCHITECTURE FOR EDUCATION INC. 41 NORTH FAIR OAKS AVE PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91103 626-356-4080 626-356-3080 F www.architecture4e.com