Reflection of alternative education approaches to new generation learning environments: Case of Reggio Emilia schools

Education is an important issue in individuals' lives. While education provides encouragement, awareness of discovery, environmental sensitivity, reflecting emotions, gaining experiential skills, self-confidence on the other hand it helps to lay the characteristic foundamental of the child. With technological advances, educational programs are developing in a constantly changing world. Together with these changes, educational institutions should be designed for new generation learning environments that will raise curiosity and support physical, cognitive and social development in children's minds. Within thesis the main features of the Reggio Emilia Approach which is one of the alternative educational approaches laid in the 19th century, and the reflection of the philosophy of education on the space were examined. In this context, the principles underlying the Reggio Emilia approach and the reflection of these principles on physical space were analyzed on 10 selected schools from abroad. As a result of this study, it is determinated in schools that adopted this approach; such as "piazza, workshop, classrooms, circulation areas, school yards" are identified as prominent spaces and "horizontality, flexibility, individualization, socialization, personalization, exploration, creating a home feeling, interior-exterior unity and lighting-tranparency" are the reflections on the space of main approach. It is thought that the data obtained from literature surveys and analyzes will be a guide for new school designs.