School as a place: a phenomenological method for contemplating school environments

Authors: Zur, Ayala¹; Eisikovits, Rivka²

Source: International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, Volume 24, Number 4, July 2011 , pp. 451-470(20)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

The study presents a phenomenologically based research procedure, whose intent is to examine people's school experience and the meaning they ascribe to 'school.' Participants in this investigative endeavor are instructed to sketch an 'ideal school,' present their plan in a visual-schematic manner, and provide an oral and written description of their design. Proposals are presented through a Location Task - a tool originally intended for use by architects in their routine work with clients. We discuss the rationale behind this procedure and describe the research tool and its application potential. Finally, we illustrate the data processing via the analysis of one proposal designed by a 17-year-old male student.

Keywords: school space; school planning; learning environment; research methodology; research tools; phenomenology

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09518398.2010.497175

Affiliations: 1: Departments of Psychology and Education, Oranim Academic College of Education, Kiriat Tivon, Israel 2: Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel

Publication date: 2011-07-01

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