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Define: Facility Needs

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Getting bogged down by the jargon on 21st century learning? You are not the only one.  One of my first tasks in starting a relationship with a District is discovering the District’s terminology for departments and special programs.  Special education is always an area where terms like Special Day Class can mean a whole host of different things and require different type of spaces.  Different approaches to learning and the world of technology have exploded the learning vocabulary to the point there needs to be a dictionary.  A Dictionary For 21st Century Teachers: Learning Models & Technology

Creating common language is key to making any organization work.  One of the unsung heroes of a facilities master plan is the cross pollination of jargon, philosophy and purpose different departments have in an organization and how they affect the final environment.  

Teachers will ask why they can’t paint their classroom a different color and the maintenance department will demand a reduction of paint colors in a construction project order to limit the amount they must keep in stock.  While this paint example is a simple one, I am always amazed during a master plan what opportunities are missed by not having connections between departments and the frustration that is resolved by having a meeting together.  Visioning and creating standards are two wonderful times to have those conversions.  Where representatives across disciplines can come together and work out an approach, which, in the end, serves the ultimate goal of the organization as a whole.  In education, that ultimate goal is as Tim always says “is all about the kids!”

How is your department's needs/objectives misinterpreted by other parts of the organization?  Do you have a success story of bringing different departments together to solve a facilities issue?
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Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 17, 2015 at 11:10 AM

    Ellen's point in this BLOG is one of the key drivers in creating a successful master plan for not only our educational clients, but as well our other clients who want effective, efficient, productive work environments.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownFebruary 17, 2015 at 4:47 PM

    One other communication tool for the generational divide.
    http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/finding_common_ground/2015/02/how_to_be_more_generationally_savvy_part_1.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownFebruary 19, 2015 at 8:50 PM

    Ellen I really enjoyed your blog. Simple and to the point. I hope school project managers and staff get to see this and follow your advice.

    ReplyDelete

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