A+DEN Conference 2006 Recap
Day I: October 27, 2006
A+DEN Conference 2006 started early Friday morning, as participants streamed into the Archicenter to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, check in and grab a bright tote bag courtesy of Conference sponsor Target. Discovering kindred colleagues, participants quickly fell into conversation about shared goals and their manifold interpretations of design thinking as an educational practice.
After a quick round of introductions, Meredith Davis opened the Conference with her keynote address, "Learning by Design." A distinguished leader in the field, Davis toured the history of K-12 design education in an inspiring talk filled with ideas, resources and references to some of the most influential educators and programs from the last 30 years. Davis further discussed the challenges facing design educators today and touched on how to overcome them through training, assessment, collaboration, partnerships and sharing of best practices.
Presentations by five exemplary built environment education programs for the youth highlighted fresh perspectives on teaching and learning both inside and beyond the classroom in "Pioneers + Innovators: New Perspectives on Architecture+Design Education." Among the featured programs: a web-based environmental design experience for middle school students and a community educational partnership that offers accredited half-day architectural studios for high school students.
Lunch on the fifteenth floor of the historic Santa Fe building designed by Daniel Burnham displayed sweeping views of Lake Michigan, the distinctive Chicago skyline and the famed Millennium Park across the street.
The afternoon began with a trip to the UK. The Architecture Centre Network from London and Midlands Architecture and the Designed Environment from Birmingham gave the audience a snapshot of the alliance between architecture centers and schools around Britain. Through a national program called "How Places Work," students make educational visits to buildings and public spaces, applying their experience with architecture to classroom activities.
The Expo gave Conference participants the opportunity to learn from one another and encounter new ideas on a common theme. 23 exhibitors reflected the broad spectrum of K-12 design education programs thriving across the country - a heartening boost of support for many. As one excited participant declared: "I am not alone!"
Everyone gathered under the glass canopy of the Santa Fe atrium to continue conversations, run through highlights of the day and enjoy the wine and cheese reception. Participants even picked up a mini lesson on one of the city's historic neighborhoods as they browsed the atrium exhibit "Learning from North Lawndale." As day one of A+DEN Conference 2006 came to a close, a leisurely Chicago evening awaited discovery.
