One of the growing trends in fashion is called up-cycling. Up-cycling gives old or discarded clothing a better purpose through a process which converts it into something useful and often beautiful.
Design Challenge 31: Up-cycling Fashion
Design Challenge 30: Outdoor Learning Spaces
Students have limited opportunities to learn outdoors. For example, one school representative reported four picnic tables for 1,250 students. So when these students might have times during the day to enjoy the benefits obtained from learning outside, there were few places to sit or study or enjoy a conversation. While picnic tables have typically been used as outdoor furniture, they are not the most
flexible or comfortable form of seating. Also, they are not necessary ergonomically sound or easily moved! Over time, schools would like to increase outdoor learning opportunities by creating learning spaces that support learning, healthy lifestyles, and fitness.
Design Challenge 29: Outdoor Classroom
What is an outdoor classroom? It is a gathering place for teachers and students to integrate nature into learning within the school grounds. It brings learning to life by situating formal learning within a school’s natural environment and giving students the opportunity to get outside and experience nature.
Design Challenge 28: Inclusive Playgrounds
“Children with disabilities are often excluded from or restrained in play activities because of the physical barriers of play structures and the surrounding environment,” (Ripat & Becker, 2012).
Organizations and foundations, like the Rick Hansen Foundation, recognize children with disabilities require active play opportunities.
Design Challenge 27: Stimulating Our Senses
Many schools have students with diverse learning needs. Sometimes, it is the simplest of tools or toys that can make a difference and support a student’s learning in wonderful and powerful ways. For example, students who have sensory processing challenges struggle to learn through their senses as the majority of us do.
Design Challenge 25: Alternative Dwellings
Most of our building supplies come from natural resources—trees, stones, brick, adobe, etc. Unfortunately not all of the resources available are suitable for building materials. As these natural resources are being consumed, builders are beginning to question how might they use alternative materials or unusual materials to build homes within our communities.
Design Challenge 18: Defining the Components of Society Using Artist Trading Cards
Society is typically defined as a group of people living together in the same geographical and social territory. Historically, the word society comes from the Latin word societas, which means friend or ally. This connection suggests many societies were formed for protection and strength. In Canada, we pride ourselves in creating a multicultural society built through immigration.
Design Challenge 15: Classroom Furniture
The classroom furniture may help or hinder collaborative learning. The ability to move furniture easily, quickly, and safety is important in classrooms wanting to create and support collaborative learning. When students are using digital technologies such as tablets or laptops, they need to be able to move around, connect to electricity, work in ever-changing groups, and use a variety of materials and resources. Also, recent studies suggest that sitting is the new smoking. From Smith Systems website: “movement can contribute to … concentration and is considered beneficial to
physical health”.
Design Challenge 13: Between a Number and a Person: Considerations of Identity and Respect
Between 1944 and 1969, the Canadian government implemented the Eskimo Identification Tag system. These tags were given to “…every Inuk living in the Western and Eastern Arctic. Each disc was about 2.5 centimetres in diameter, made of hard cardboard or leather and sienna-like in colour. The expectation was that each Inuk would keep the disc, which had a hole punched in its top, on his or her person at all times.”
Design Challenge 12: It’s Never Black or White or Paper or Plastic
We have all heard the phase, “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.” The majority of Canadians have recycling options right on their doorsteps, provided by their municipalities. The recycling symbol is a common marking on the items we use. On a personal level, what to use and how to reduce our consumption can be challenging.