Innovation: The Big Room Redesign

The Idea
At Harbor Day, we task our students to think like designers. While reflecting on our own campus space issues, I asked our middle school students to use Design Thinking to reimagine space in the large middle school walkway, also known as “The Big Room. “

The Process
At the end of each day, middle school students are required to return their iPads to the iPad carts. The packing up process tends to be messy. Students using the lower cubbies have their materials strewn out on the floor, frantically working to collect their belongings to place in their backpacks. In order to visualize the problem, we took pictures to help form the basis for our Design Thinking discussion. After a uniform sale event, we noticed that the students were placing their backpacks and materials on the tables used for the event to help them pack their things. It was then we discovered that we had an opportunity.

We continued to observe after the tables were removed. Smaller classes doing project-based assignments were working on the floor. It became clear that here was an opportunity to strategically place tables and furniture in this area. The students needed space to work and an area to collect their thoughts and discuss projects.

After some additional reflection and discussion, we decided to make some minor changes to see what would happen. We began by placing some of the extra tables we had into the Big Room giving the students the opportunity to make good use of them. We surveyed students to see how they liked the tables. Most mentioned how useful they were, a few were indifferent.

The Results
Initiate micro experiment number two. Over a long weekend, we removed the barely used desktop computers that were outside the 7th grade cubbies and shifted the tables around to be more functional. Initially, students wondered where the computers were but quickly adapted to the new space. It has now become more of a study area with teachers using it as a regular project-based learning space.

We began to talk about new furniture and within a few weeks we were ready to discuss options with a furniture vendor. Director of Facilities, Mike Coleman, Upper School Director, Susan Johnson, and I sat down and went through several design iterations each time considering traffic flow, use, and fit. After settling on the materials, color, and layout we placed our order and waited.

Once the furniture arrived, it was set up within a few hours. The results were fantastic! When the students came to school the next day they were initially surprised but began to enjoy the new setup quickly. Since then we can’t seem to figure out how we got by without it. Middle school students work in the space daily and it has become a source of learning and inspiration for all.

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Mr. James Gapp has been the Director of Technology at Harbor Day since 2011. Mr. Gapp has spoken and consulted with educational institutions in Orange County such as Our Lady Queen of Angels School, Irvine Unified School District, Orange County Department of Education, and Mariners Christian School.