What is a Blook?

A blook is a book that is written and self-published on a weblog in a series of installments.

I have chosen to write this book, Transforming Classrooms to Learning Studios using a blog because I like the fact that I can write and self-publish whenever I want. I can then edit and republish (Update) whenever I want for as many times as I want. For example, I wrote the first sentence above and then hit the 'Publish' button to lock in a web (URL) address so that I could start making a linkable Table of Contents. You might be thinking, he's 'building the plane while flying it,' and you would be right, and another great reason to use a blog to write and organize a book.

Printed books are wonderful of course, but if you want to use video and colored photographs integrated in the narrative, then this is a nice non-linear option, especially if you're here to experience some non-traditional thinking about K-12 classrooms.

I value HTML, the basic computer code for creating content on the Internet currently hiding under these very words. Here's a quick look of that code under the hood - 

I have learned that a blog is a fantastic medium for linking and sharing ideas using a social media format to not only write a book, but to simultaneously promote and get readers hitting your book while you're writing it. Blogs also allow readers to write a comment below each post, giving the author direct feedback. Who knows, with your feedback, you might become a mechanic on this plane?

Are you currently reading this blook on your smartphone? I think this is much more interactive than reading an eBook that uses either the EPUB or Kindle File Format for storing books on a Kindle device for example. My frustration with Kindle-like eBooks is that they just have etext and graphics within a terrible navigation system. If I wanted just text and graphics, I can read a printed book. In fact recently, I have stopped using my Kindle Paperwhite, and have gone back to buying printed books because I can easily mark it up and quickly go back to sections I want to reread.

Okay, the big elephant in the room, as you're probably thinking, "This poor fellow just couldn't get a real book deal through a print publisher." You would be right on that score too, but that shouldn't stop me from doing something I'm passionate about, with possibly a little multimedia flare!

   

You might also say, "He's certainly not going to make any money writing this blog book," but in this stage of my life, that's not my goal. My goal here, is to get you motivated to want to change a traditional classroom of the the same desks and chairs into a create cozy learning space. Let's call that space a studio where all the students come to school everyday to create stuff.

Oh, here's another thing about blooks, they're really never finished. I can instantly create a 2nd edition by going back to edit a post I've already published, or create new posts to add to my blook. Using my FREE blog web app, Blogger, I can simply edit and hit the 'Update' button, and nobody but me gets to decide, if my book is out of print. 

Okay, let's start this plane engine, and maybe transform your classroom along the way.

  

References

1. THEFREEDICTIONARY.COM website, Blook - definition of blook by The Free Dictionary (Available at: https://www.thefreedictionary.com/blook, Last accessed 4th March 2021)
   
   
2. WIKIPEDIA.ORG website, E-book - Wikipedia (Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-book, Last accessed 4th March 2021)
   
   
3. WIKIPEDIA.ORG website, EPUB - Wikipedia (Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPUB, Last accessed 4th March 2021)
   
   
4. WIKIPEDIA.ORG website, HTML - Wikipedia (Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML, Last accessed 4th March 2021)
   
   
5. WIKIPEDIA.ORG website, Kindle File Format - Wikipedia (Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindle_File_Format, Last accessed 4th March 2021)


6. YOUTUBE.COM website, The best 10 sec fireworks eva! - YouTube (Available at:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1zjZUWmY38, Last accessed 4th March 2021)
   
   
7. WIKIPEDIA.ORG website, Amazon Kindle Paperwhite - Wikipedia (Available at:
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle#Kindle_Paperwhite_(First_generation), Last accessed 4th March 2021)

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank and acknowledge the people that have a passion for creating engaging learning studios and/or continue to support my work.

In alphabetical order -

• Cheryl David, Washington Elementary STEAM Magnet School, SDUSD
• William DeVoe, William DeVoe Law, Seattle WA
• Monique Falcon, Washington Elementary STEAM Magnet School, SDUSD
• Mary Kit McIntosh, Editor in Chief
• Shawna McIntosh, de Portola Middle School, SDUSD
• Daniel Ortiz, Facilities Planning and Construction, SDUSD
• Melissa Romero, Mission Bay High School, SDUSD
• Dean Smith, D&D
• Pam Stahlak, (Retired) Zamorano Elementary School, SDUSD
• Katie Wagner, McKinley IB Elementary, SDUSD
• Dan Wolfson, San Diego County Office of Education

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Constructs

• Introduction
• What is a Blook?
• Why Create a Learning Studio?
• How to Create A Learning Studio
  
  

Design Ideas

• Easy as PIE: Plan > Implement > Evaluate
• Create a Floor Plan
• Create an Online Store Teacher Wishlists for Parents & Donors
  
  

Affordable Furniture

• Sit to Stand Desks & Tables
• Hack - Activity Table to Low Table
• Tables
• Rocker Seating
• Yoga Ball Seating
• Stool Seating
• Floor Mats & Cushions
• Portable Lap Desks & Drawing Boards
• Mobile Whiteboards/Dividers
• Task Chairs
• Soft Seating
  
  

Transformations

• Monique Falcon - 2nd Grade Learning Studio
• Cheryl David - 3rd Grade Learning Studio
• Katie Wagner - 3rd Grade Learning Studio
• Shawna McIntosh - 6th Grade Learning Studio
  
  

About the Author - Douglas G. McIntosh
Profiles in Mileage @ dgmcintosh.com

• Doug's Websites/Social Media

Introduction

Get back to where you once belonged –Paul McCartney

In 1980, I started my K-12 education career teaching students with severe multiple disabilities in San Diego Unified School District. Over a couple of years I transformed my room into a fun zone. I integrated the classroom with a variety of electrical and battery operated toys and devices with individualized therapeutic equipment for students with varying cognitive challenges and conditions of spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy. 

I channeled my inner Neil Young and his experience with his son Ben to build a train set operated by individually crafted adaptive switches for each student. The individualized single or multiple switch systems for students were not only used with all the different AC/DC toys we adapted, but we progressed to using those same control devices for individualized augmented and alternative communication (AAC) systems. 

It was an exciting time, I was young and motivated to change my hospital-like classroom into a warm cozy space filled with micro-learning spaces, or what we called 'learning centers' back in the 20th century.

In 1986, I started teaching a general education Kindergarten class and channeled my inner Maria Montessori and Steve Martin by adding lots of cozy furniture, roll carpets on a wall to wall tile floor, and created dozens of different learning centers. 

By the 90's and into the 2000's, I had become a central office special education, magnet schools, and educational technology resource teacher in several positions in the school district. In those various positions, I had visited hundreds of classrooms in about 180 different schools. I saw a lot, but unfortunately in general education K-12 classrooms, I saw most of the same. 

Around 2005, I became very passionate about changing the traditional physical classroom of all the same desks and chairs with more eclectic soft and hard furniture. The teachers who were changing up their classrooms were individuals, all on their own, spending their own money to transform their teaching and learning environment.

In 2009, I walked into Pam Stahlak's 4th grade class at Zamorano Elementary School (pictured below) and I was totally blown away by the learning space she had crafted. 

Several years later, I first heard the term, 'learning studio,' used to describe a problem or project-based learning environment utilizing technology with design thinking, what we would call a 'makerspace' today. In education, terms float around all the time coming and going, but I thought about Pam's class and thought, she's transformed her classroom to a creativity-based learning studio. Since then, I have referred to the now retired Pam Stahlak as, "The godmother of the Learning Studio."

Here is my defintion of a Learning Studio.

A K-12 Learning Studio is a one-of-a kind hybrid of a classroom, studio, and family room designed by the teacher (and students) to form unique *micro learning spaces that can be fixed or are mobile and modular in design.

*Micro Learning Spaces are defined areas within a learning studio equipped with specific materials, technology and/or furniture.

Now several years later, I got involved with new school construction in my district working with technology and furniture vendors. I eventually retired from teaching myself in 2014 and started my own consulting business designing classrooms, libraries and makerspaces. I worked with numerous technology and furniture vendors, creating learning studio-type spaces. 

What I found in my home State of California, is that the majority of school renovation dollars where typically going to libraries or makerspaces. Existing classrooms where getting next to nothing, other than the teacher getting $50-$150 dollars from the PTA or school foundation for the year.

In 2020, I quit my consulting business and decided to start my own non-profit, Project Learning Studio™ with a vision to help teachers in existing classrooms transform their physical learning space.

The Mission of Project Learning Studio™ is to donate: new, sample or overstock furniture and/or technology directly to teachers in K-12 schools wanting to transform their classroom into a 21st century learning space.

Here, a learning studio space is defined in the context of learning in a physical space infused with personalized and collaborative furniture, materials, tools, and technology that enhances everyone's sensory input, physical movement, and psychological well-being.

I think I've come full circle, I'm back to scratching and clawing for furniture and equipment to make a teacher's classroom a safe, motivating, and cozy place for their students to learn. This book reflects that endeavor.

I'm back to where I once belonged.

References

1. website, G. (Last accessed 10th March 2021). The Beatles – Get Back (Single Version) Lyrics | Genius Lyrics. Available at: https://genius.com/The-beatles-get-back-single-version-lyrics
2. website, C. (Last accessed 10th March 2021). StackPath. Available at: https://www.cerebralpalsyguidance.com/cerebral-palsy/types/spastic-quadriplegia/
   
3. website, A. (Last accessed 10th March 2021). What is AAC? - AssistiveWare. Available at: https://www.assistiveware.com/learn-aac/what-is-aac#:~:text=AAC%20is%20short%20for%20Augmentative,has%20difficulties%20communicating%20using%20speech.
4. website, A. (Last accessed 10th March 2021). History of Montessori Education. Available at: https://amshq.org/About-Montessori/History-of-Montessori
5. website, G. (Last accessed 10th March 2021). Pam Stahlak: The godmother of the Learning Studio, 4th Grade, Zamorano Elementary. Available at: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPQ2LVEjnXM1fDB8VLpKuawoJFFVQOPqF_ADEYnB5UOrKjX7G3ZaLz5vIxyOV4klQ
   
6. website, Y. (Last accessed 10th March 2021). Neil Young, YouTube. embedded below at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3z09VRZ6to&t=1s
   
   

Why Create a Learning Studio?

What is a Learning Studio?
Here, a K-12 Learning Studio is a one-of-a kind hybrid of a classroom, studio, and family room designed by the teacher (and students) to form unique *micro learning spaces that can be fixed or are mobile and modular in design.

*Micro Learning Spaces are defined areas within a learning studio equipped with specific materials, technology and/or furniture.