New IDEA Center Lights Up Learning at the School
Whether for books or big screens, individual study or group projects, research or problem solving—the newly opened IDEA Center is the go-to place for Upper School students this fall.
“On the first day of school, there literally was not a spot that didn’t have a student at it—every table, every pod, was occupied,” says a delighted Sarah Leedberg (US’88), IDEA Center Coordinator. With her background as a project manager in the petroleum industry, Leedberg was specifically hired to model, engage, and support students (and teachers) in scientific, analytical, and solution-oriented research and problem solving. As she puts it, “We want our students to approach everything like it’s a science problem: What do you see? What do you know? What are the unknowns? And how can you figure out what the best solution is in each situation?”
The “IDEA” in IDEA Center represents . . .
- Ideas that are principled, creative, and innovative,
- Design processes that are collaborative, iterative, and generative,
- Excellence in thought and product and exploration of better options; and
- Actions that put ideas to use for the betterment of humanity.
And as the very name of the IDEA Center implies, academic preparation today is not so much about figuring out one “right answer” as applying principles of reasoning and research to develop a range of appropriate solutions that can be adapted to different situations. Head of School Travis Brantingham emphasizes this point in his enthusiasm for the center. “I am very excited about the way the new IDEA Center will invigorate students’ learning by allowing them to generate new ideas together and collaborate more effectively,” he notes. “The space will also help faculty integrate multiple disciplines into their classes.”
While the center retains elements of the former library—stacks and shelves of research, nonfiction, and fiction books; magazine racks; and worktables—it incorporates many new aspects that are geared to rapid sharing and real-time collaboration among students and teachers. On one side are six glass-partitioned cubicles or "pods" with large-screen, networked monitors. Here, small groups of students can work together on project presentations and documentation, providing their input and editing each other’s work on-screen. The vast seating area in the middle of the center organically divides into different sections for large-group sessions and smaller study areas, and even boasts café-style, upholstered seating in some sections. Additional rooms can be reserved for specific research or teaching sessions. “It’s a big enough space to accommodate you no matter what your study style is,” Leedberg observes.
And the placement of the IDEA Center right at the entrance to the Upper School speaks to the emphasis on academic excellence and student-centered learning—a message that is not lost on the students. “The activity level has just blossomed,” says Leedberg’s colleague, Head Librarian Diane Hammond, who worked for several years in the Upper School library when it was located in the basement level of the building. “I’m seeing students in here that I never saw downstairs! Now they see their peers working in here, and they all want to come in and do the same. I love all the little collaborations taking place.”