Welcome
Statement from Larry Morgan
Larry Morgan
Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theorizes that a person has basic needs that must be met in order for that individual to be successful. Maslow ranked safety needs as the second essential item that must be met immediately following physiological needs such as food, water, and shelter. We here at the Educational Design Institute hold a similar philosophy, believing that students' basic physical needs must be met before they are ready to learn at their full potential.
Because of this conviction, the Educational Design Institute (EDI) at Mississippi State University, in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Education Office of Safe and Orderly Schools, is here to provide assistance to schools and school districts.
Moreover, EDI is responsible for revising and updating the Mississippi School Design Guidelines (MSDGL). Our vast experience with various building projects and knowledge of the MSDGL make our organization a perfect partner for any school district contemplating a building project.
We offer services in the following areas: workshops for professional development, school/community focus groups on educational design issues, educational needs assessments, facility improvement strategies, and school bond referendum strategies. During each step of the process our organization strives to put student achievement at the forefront. By working in cooperation with your organization, we can strive to ensure that "No Child is Left Behind."
Statement from Chris Cosper
Chris Cosper
The Educational Design Institute is a collaboration between educators and designers.
One of our goals is partnering with progressive Mississippi architecture and engineering design firms. Although we understand that education is primarily in the hands of educators, we also believe that good design can aid instruction and poor design can inhibit it. If a child cannot hear the teacher, or is distracted by constantly being hot or cold, that child is at a disadvantage. Conversely, children who attend school in well-designed classrooms - with adequate daylight, good acoustics, and thoughtful storage and pin-up spaces - are more likely to succeed.
We also know that energy costs are straining school district budgets. Energy efficient "green" schools are the future, and we need to engage with this reality now and not saddle school districts with expensive "energy hogs" that waste resources and limited funds. To accomplish this, we need to convince school districts and architects that life-cycle costs are more important than initial construction costs.