News . Best Practices Resignifying the spaces of architecture and urbanism in times of COVID-19 (Best Practice Brazil)

CARE: The students were involved in the discussion about the COVID-19 contingency plan. The participants were 104 students, aged between 14 and 16, from the 2nd grade of high school, 78 of them having completed the scientific action, along with their families, a teacher, a researcher, and a scientist who shared their concerns about COVID-19. Everyone involved in the action of identifying problematic situations in urban spaces that favor the spread of the virus, inspired by the study of great inventions, especially architectural works, at the time of the Renaissance, in particular the project by Leonardo Da Vinci, “the city of future”, created from the epidemic of the Black Death in Europe.

KNOW: Curricular knowledge was worked, in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary way, emphasizing the analysis of historical and scientific data in the disciplines of Art and Science. This made it possible, in a practical way, for students to interact and play a leading role in the learning process. Research, discussion, and application of concepts on quality of life, health, prevention, art and science, language and communication, architecture and urbanism, pandemic, great inventions of the Renaissance period and model making permeated all the actions of the project.

The skills of reflection, discussion and construction were developed through individual and collective practices contemplating the analysis and experiences that addressed the artistic and cultural heritage monuments contextualized with COVID-19. The result shows the students’ perceptions when speaking with property about the coronavirus, attitudes, and habits to combat contamination in school, family and society and the combative architectural needs in the spread of viruses.

As attitudes to be developed, emphasis was placed on valuing urban spaces; in creating ideas to solve problem situations in architecture and urbanism; to identify preventive measures against COVID-19 in urban spaces; in the act of resignifying the school curriculum with theories and practices in times of COVID-19; the one of valuing the knowledge built in the school environment for life in society and the one of promoting reflections with a scientific nature in the school, family and community on human innovations.

DO: Students were involved in the following activities:

• Observation, together with family members, of the urban spaces of the cities and their architectures, identifying the problems encountered (whether in houses, buildings, hospitals, public transport, parks, squares, schools, gyms, among others), which DO NOT offer quality life and protection from COVID-19.
• Research and discussion in groups about art and science and the great inventions in the renaissance.
• Reading and interpretation of the 15th century Epidemic, which inspired Leonardo Da Vinci to create the “city of the future” project.
• Presentation of videos and websites about COVID-19.
• Construction of a model and presentation of the problem with a possible solution:

1. Ex: the PROBLEM is in the care of recovery of contaminated patients. How could a new hospital, or park with cozy, welcoming spaces, offer a joyful and harmonious environment with therapeutic medicine to overcome fear, panic, anguish, physical and emotional difficulties?
2. Ex: the PROBLEM is in public transport. What is the solution to improve public transport since the distance of the seats does not correspond to the distance of 1.00 meters?
3. Ex: the PROBLEM is in the size of the internal spaces of the house, thinking about work “home office”. What is the innovation of house and apartment projects to meet this new type of work that COVID-19 has caused overnight changes along with digital technology, internet?

FINDINGS: The open scenario methodology used was project-based collaborative learning. Students brought their own questions, discussed with the scientists and their families. Teachers found the open learning activity useful and as the school offers teaching by areas of knowledge, it facilitated the planning of actions and the applicability of learning activities. The adaptations took place in accordance with the New High School learning theories and practices. Teachers meet weekly and seek theories and practices compatible with the subject addressed, technological resources that expand the possibilities of access to science. In general, addressing socio-scientific issues fit perfectly into the school curriculum by exploring and complementing actions already developed and based on competences and skills in teaching by areas of knowledge.

OUTCOMES: The participation of students was significant in carrying out the activities. It was evident that the dialogue between the areas of knowledge was relevant for the engagement, interaction, and production of scientific knowledge. Students felt protagonists in the learning processes. There have been changes in attitudes and habits in relation to care in the prevention of COVID-19 in school, family, and society spaces. However, it is not always possible to achieve the participation of all, however, it is observed that the number of students who were not included in the learning process is minimal.

During the making of the model, it was visible that the students embraced the proposal, as they were confident in their ability to think, create and produce. The freedom of creation in the model aroused more interest in the students because they felt subjects in the process. Trust asserts itself when actors identify themselves as protagonists with autonomy in responsible decisions.

However, the very social distancing generated by the pandemic period caused many disruptions in the school routine, among which contacted scientists impossible. The return of face-to-face classes with 50% of the students, in the form of a rotation, reduced the time for carrying out the learning activities.

Find out more here: Our report.