Develop the Foundations for the Living Classroom: (4) Formalize the Collaboration, (5) Commit to the Physical Space for the Living Classroom, (6) Create Standard Operating Protocols and Formal Agreements
Commit to the Physical Space
After you have jointly developed an operational viability plan (see building block 2), and the basis for a collaborative business relationship, it is time to finalize the physical environment of the Living Classroom.
We identified the following space considerations for the Living Classroom (Table 6).
Table 6: Physical Facility Planning of the Living Classroom
| Activity | Learning Spaces | Student Integration with LTC Home |
|---|---|---|
A “Home” for Students | Student lounge, study and gathering spaces. | It is sometimes difficult to integrate the student informal space within the existing resident and staff space. Existing spaces in a LTC home are usually insufficient for students as well as residents and families. Consider creating separate spaces to accommodate students. |
| Engagement of Students with LTC Residents and Staff | Residents, family and staff should be invited to participate in teaching and mentoring in the LC spaces. | Operating protocols support student engagement with residents, families and staff in the LTC home. |
| Theoretical Learning | Classroom space is essential, and may be shared with the LTC home. | Theoretical learning can also happen or be reinforced in the practice environment. |
| Practice Learning | Skills labs help students prepare for interactions in care delivery with residents. | LTC teams engage students in specific care practices (e.g., conversations, lifting and transferring, bathing, hand hygiene, assisting with the dining experience) within resident areas. |
Student and Faculty Support Space and Resources | Private faculty work space is needed for faculty and student counselling and storage of confidential student records. Assign computer and media learning support space as appropriate to the program. Ensure that Internet and phone lines are available. A secure room is required to ensure safety of LC equipment and medical supplies. | Not applicable. |
| Parking and Public Transportation | Parking for students and faculty. Access to nearby public transportation. | Clarity of parking management. Confirm bus stop locations, request new transit stop if necessary, or re-location of existing transit stop. |
Building Entry and Signage for Students and Faculty | Students must be able to enter/exit the LC even when the LTC home is closed due to outbreak or other reasons. This can be achieved by locating the LC in a building adjacent to the LTC home or in an area that can be separated from the LTC home. Develop policies for LC hours of operation within the LTC home. Provide signage and placement of the LC to provide a professional Image and presence. | The presence of the LC provides the opportunity for an education hub for non-LC students completing a placement in the LTC home. This is an opportunity for interprofessional engagement with a broader range of students, PSE staff and LTC home teams. Policies need to be developed for students who wish to volunteer in the LTC home outside of LC hours of operation. |
Quality of the Environment | Flooring surfaces should be designed for heavy traffic and be non-glare and non-slip. Windows for natural lighting are desired but not essential. Window coverings must be able to block out light to promote visibility of presentations, etc. Avoid proximity to noisy areas including kitchen, laundry or ventilation systems. Lights should be dimmable for various teaching/learning formats. | Not applicable. |
There are many items that go into making the LC an inviting and interprofessional working environment. Table 7 below provides examples of the space allocations for the LC at the Village of Riverside Glen. These spaces were designed to accommodate 48 PSW students at one time (with two overlapping intakes) and two faculty. Space needs are proportional to student numbers and type of program.
Table 8 below provides an example of the furniture and equipment needed for the LC. Please note that costs will vary depending on the number of students enrolled and the type of program. Also, Table 8 does not include electricity, rent payments, housekeeping and maintenance services, medical supplies, and IT or WIFI systems. At the Village of Riverside Glen LC, the cost of the items in Table 8 totalled approximately $120,000 to $150,000.