Scholarly record

THE SCHOOL OF MY DREAMS! ANALYSING ASPECTS OF PARTICIPATORY SCHOOL DESIGN INDICATED BY 188 PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM SIX SCHOOLS IN THREE CITIES OF ROMANIA.

R.H. Brindusa, D. Negrisanu, O. Simionescu

Abstract

The aim of this survey was to identify the hierarchy of most important aspects of what primary, secondary and high-school students, from six schools, in three Romanian cities would describe as “The School of My Dreams” (the ideal school). The methodology used was content analysis of a questionnaire with open answers written by students, along with drawings, on empty postcards. The question was: How would look like the school of your dreams? The answers were written after a discussion on school buildings from different regions of the world. Open answers were analysed, and aspects mentioned were assigned in different categories. Finally we identified fourteen categories, such as: 1. Extraordinary school identity, 2. Information and Communication Technologies, 3. Dimensions and forms of the school building, 4. Colour, and so on. The frequency of each written aspect offered the scores of each category, and thus a hierarchy was established. The need for modern facilities and furniture was on top. The major finding was the wish for extraordinary school identity (like “my school is a castle”, or a “hot air balloon”, or “skyscrapers”), ranked second. It was followed by sport facilities, green spaces and Information and Communication Technologies. Library was found on the last position. The identity of “The School of My Dreams” (the ideal school in the student’s eyes) seems to be an important aspect for primary, secondary and high-school students. Involving students in the participatory school design process could highlight aspects often forgotten by adults.

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