EDspaces 2017 Keynotes & Exhibits Draw Large Crowds & News Coverage

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EDspaces 2017 brought together more than 2,000 leaders from across the education sector for a three-day conference and expo to push past boundaries 
and help schools and colleges work for all students. Growth was illustrated by record attendance with twice as many architects and designers as last year and a 15% increase in attendance by educational institutions. In addition, 100 more exhibit booths were sold compared to 2016 with 53 companies exhibiting for the first time.

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Program
An actively-engaged committee of EDmarket leadership, American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Education and U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools leaders, and local dealers and architects in Kansas City planned a powerful education program featuring over 40 educational sessions, two impressive plenary session speakers (Sir Ken Robinson and Google’s Jaime Casap), and six tour site locations. Experts in the design community shared new research and trend data while educators and planners demonstrated their first-hand experience and needs for modern facility design that can affect positive change in the classroom. 

EDmarket fielded competitive classroom design at EDspaces; a first for the event, with evaluation managed by a diverse program and planning committee. Classrooms are an extension of learning, allowing participants to experience how the environment facilities education at every level. Visit EDspaces classrooms online for more information about this year's winners:

• Demco, Inc.

• Moseley Architects

• Scott Rice Office Works/DLR Group/VS

• School Outfitters

• Susan Gladden Interiors

Awards

EDspaces attendees experienced the latest in educational furniture, fixtures, and equipment from nearly top manufacturers with the latest innovations for students and teachers with new products introduced by 78% of the exhibiting companies. Highlighting cutting-edge products, the 2017 EDspaces Innovation Awards featured hot new products for the classroom, visit us on line for more details. Juried by members of International Interior Design Association (IIDA), and covered by Learning by Design magazine, winners were announced at the Thursday Plenary session with the Best of Competition honors awarded to CEF-Custom Educational Furnishings for The Edison Table. Category winners included:

Flooring: Moraine by Milliken & Company

Equipment: TechGuard Connect Charging Lockers by Bretford Manufacturing Inc.

Furniture: The Edison Table by CEF-Custom Educational Furnishings

Furniture: Vidget 3-in-1 Flexible Seating System™ by Viggi Corp.

Seating: Virco C2M 4-Leg Chair by Virco, Inc.

Seating: HowdaHUG® Seats by Howda Designz, LLC

Also honored with the David McCurrach Distinguished Service Award: Gregory Cooney, co-owner of the Frank Cooney Company, for his long-term commitment to the industry and EDmarket.

Donations
Exhibitors gave generously at the conclusion of the event by donating 16.5 twenty-five foot truckloads of brand-new educational furnishings, equipment and fixtures to benefit Kansas City Public Schools. USGBC Central Plains and Center for Green Schools coordinated the donations in support of their mission to transform all schools into sustainable and healthy places to live, learn, work and play.  

EDfest
Attendees a fun all-industry EDfest Party at The College Basketball Experience where they could participate in free-throw drill, explore the history of the game, and network with fellow key players in the education market.

Future EDspaces
Mark your calendar for next year’s event: November 7-9, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. We're evolving this conference each year to encourage networking and give participants a chance to forge lifelong professional connections throughout the education sector and experience new product innovations. Consider submitting a presentation an joining us:

October 23-25, 2019 Milwaukee, WI
November 11-13, 2020 Charlotte, NC
November 3-5, 2021 Pittsburgh, PA
November 2-4, 2022 Portland, OR

The Potential Impact of Emerging Technologies on Teaching and Learning

What is on the five-year horizon for schools? Which trends and technology developments will drive educational change? What are the critical challenges and how can we strategize solutions? These questions regarding technology adoption and educational change steered the discussions of 61 experts to produce the NMC/CoSN Horizon Report: 2017 K–12 Edition, in partnership with the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and made possible by mindSpark Learning.

Six key trends, six significant challenges, and six developments in educational technology profiled in this report are poised to impact teaching, learning, and creative inquiry in K–12 education. The three sections of this report constitute a reference and technology planning guide for educators, school education leaders, administrators, policymakers, and technologists. These highlights capture the big picture themes of educational change that underpin the 18 topics:

1)      Advancing progressive learning approaches requires cultural transformation. Schools must be structured to promote the exchange of fresh ideas and identify successful models with a lens toward sustainability — especially in light of inevitable leadership changes.

2)      Learners are creators. The advent of makerspaces, classroom configurations that enable active learning, and the inclusion of coding and robotics are providing students with ample opportunities to create and experiment in ways that spur complex thinking. Students are already designing their own solutions to real-world challenges.

3)      Inter- and multidisciplinary learning breaks down silos. School curricula are increasingly making clear connections between subjects like science and humanities, and engineering and art, demonstrating to students that a well-rounded perspective and skill set are vital to real-world success.

4)      The widespread use of technology does not translate into equal learner achievement. Technology is an enabler but does not alone compensate for gaps in student engagement and performance attributable to socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and gender.

5)      Continuously measuring learning is essential to better understanding learners’ needs. Analytics technologies are providing teachers, schools, and districts with both individual and holistic views of student learning, informing strategies for serving at-risk and gifted populations.

6)      Fluency in the digital realm is more than just understanding how to use technology. Learning must go beyond gaining isolated technology skills toward generating a deep understanding of digital environments, enabling intuitive adaptation to new contexts and co-creation of content with others.

7)      Authentic learning is not a trend — it is a necessity. Hands-on experiences that enable students to learn by doing cultivate self-awareness and self-reliance while piquing curiosity. Virtual reality and makerspaces are just two vehicles for stimulating these immersive opportunities.

8)      There is no replacement for good teaching — the role is just evolving. No matter how useful and pervasive technology is, students will always need guides, mentors, and coaches to help them navigate projects, generate meaning, and develop lifelong learning habits. School cultures must encourage, reward, and scale effective teaching practices.

9)      Schools are prioritizing computational thinking in the curriculum. Developing skills that enable learners to use computers to gather data, break it down into smaller parts, and analyze patterns will be an increasing necessity to succeed in our digital world. While coding is one aspect of this idea, even those not pursuing computer science jobs will need these skills to work with their future colleagues.

10)   Learning spaces must reflect new approaches in education. The pervasiveness of active learning pedagogies is requiring a shift in how learning environments are being designed. Emerging technologies such as making, mixed reality, and the Internet of Things are requiring more flexible and connected plans.

About the report: This NMC Horizon Report series charts the five-year impact of innovative practices and technologies for K–12 education (primary and secondary education) across the globe. With more than 15 years of research and publications, the NMC Horizon Project can be regarded as education’s longest running exploration of emerging technology trends and uptake.

Download a complimentary copy of the NMC/CoSN Horizon Report report.

Reconfiguring the Classroom for Healthy and Successful Learners

By Bob Hill, Ergotron

As Millennials pour into the workforce, they’re bringing a renewed sense of collaboration and flexibility. And these young professionals expect their work spaces to keep up. Simultaneously, next generation learners are walking into the classroom for the first time, and these students also desire flexibility to meet their individual needs. One-to-one device initiatives and personalized learning tools work to address these trends, but districts often overlook the physical components that facilitate the best 21^st century learning experience.

The classroom sets the foundation for innovative learning, and that goes beyond the qualifications of the teacher or the breadth of the curriculum. Classroom furniture, including student desks, must keep pace with technology and students’ varied learning styles to support their overall well-being, ultimately leading to greater engagement and academic success.

An undeniable link between health, engagement and academics

Walk into an average classroom, and you’re likely to see most students just where you expect them to be — sitting. But this seemingly normal aspect of today’s school system puts students at a learning disadvantage. After just 30 minutes of sitting, students’ metabolism slows, blood circulation decreases, good cholesterol drops and blood sugar rises. Students lose focus the longer they sit, making them less likely to engage. Their desks become a barrier to learning.

Elementary school students benefit from movement-based activities already integrated into the school day, as well as physical education and recess. As they transition to middle school and high school, however, static classroom time replaces physical activity. This familiar “sit and get” model of education doesn’t serve today’s learners, physically or mentally.

This is where taking a fresh look at classroom furniture comes into discussion. One option? Replacing stationary desks with mobile sit-stand desks. Through regular sit-stand motion throughout the class day, students achieve this non-disruptive, low-level physical activity that counteracts the negatives of sitting. Students have greater metabolic health, including higher heart rate and greater oxygen and nutrient transport. They also burn more calories and maintain insulin effectiveness.[1] This is a key step in establishing healthier habits earlier in life. With more than one-third (35.1%) of adults over the age of 20 in the United States classified as obese,[2] educators, not employers, play a key role in combatting this trend before students even enter the workforce.

Researchers have found that integrating sit-stand furniture into the classroom leads to greater classroom engagement, on-task behavior and greater academic performance.[3]  Students regularly improve on regular assessments like quizzes and tests, as well as full-year learning evaluations that measure overall progress, and students notice the difference.

“You feel more energetic and you pay much better attention when you’re standing up,” said Jose, a ninth grader at Dr. Kirk Lewis Career & Technical High School in Houston, Texas.

Physical activity doesn’t have to just come from an elective physical education class. Instead, students can remain in class, regularly switch between sitting and standing and improve their overall well-being and academic performance. With more attentive students, teachers can build on lesson plans with supplementary course material that leads to better academic outcomes for students. And when focus wanes, students intuitively know it’s time to stand.

“All teachers pride ourselves on being able to know who our students are. If we’ve been sitting and everybody starts to get a little flat, it’s time to stand up,” said Jason Rhodes, a ninth-grade teacher at Dr. Kirk Lewis Career & Technical High School.

Flexible classroom spaces lead to greater personalization

Integrating regular movement into the classroom not only supports students’ health and academic outcomes – it promotes personalized learning. Teachers must accommodate different kinds of learners, but with out-of-the-box classroom furniture, they’re limited by time and resources to adjust.

As our digital world continues to evolve, learning spaces need to also evolve to promote collaboration and flexibility. 

Many districts are already adopting new teaching methodologies to approach education in a new way for today’s learners. In flipped classrooms where students tackle detailed “homework” assignments, learning spaces need to be instantly adaptable to move from whole-class instruction to collaborative groups to individual student-teacher work sessions. Sit-stand desks help teachers meet students where they are at, addressing their individual learning styles more effectively. Raising or lowering the sit-stand desk allows students to learn in the way that feels most natural to them.

“These desks are a part of personalized learning because they give students freedom to be more comfortable, more focused and attentive,” said Alex Brahm, a World History, World Religions, Theory of Knowledge teacher at Lamar High School in Houston, TX

And with flexible classroom furniture, teachers can easily reconfigure the classroom for group collaboration, peer-to-peer work or one-on-one instruction. It no longer takes dedicated time to drag heavy desks into new formations that only work for one learning style. Teachers can easily experiment with new approaches and continuously innovate in the classroom without the constraints of traditional classroom furniture. As they move away from a lecture-style format, they take on the role of a facilitator working to meet both individual and group needs. 

“There’s never a moment when the actual physical space gets in the way of learning the material,” Monica Escobar, a fifth grade teacher at Alexandria Country Day School in Alexandria, VA, said after implementing LearnFit desks.

Funding can serve as a barrier for some districts, but with a single investment facilities and operations leaders have one solution for students and staff, reducing the number of costly orders and the management of multiple kinds of classroom furniture. It’s a standardized solution that’s also flexible, encouraging teachers to broaden their teaching approach and allowing students to take control of their learning environment.

Stand up for new learning possibilities

Transforming a static, traditional classroom into a learning environment infused with movement opens doors to renewed health and academic success for students. No longer contained in an environment that has a negative impact on their bodies and well-being, students will be more engaged and ready to take on new academic challenges.

Equipped with tools like sit-stand desks, school leaders can provide the non-disruptive activity that both students and teachers need to succeed. This single investment pays off in innovative teaching strategies, assessment scores, engagement rates and overall student well-being. These desks also impact other departments in the school because with endless combinations of classroom formats available without facility involvement, facilities staff can focus on other concerns instead of directing efforts toward fulfilling individual furniture requests.

The next wave of technological advances will keep coming, bringing with it new opportunities and challenges. But the fact remains, movement matters for students, and flexible classroom furniture like sit-stand desks can convert student workspaces to be healthy and personalized for their best learning environment.

Bob Hill is the Healthcare and Education Manager for Ergotron. He works with schools and healthcare facilities around the globe to build greater awareness of the importance of active learnstyles and workstyles. He helps build ergonomic work environments that support the health and wellbeing of employees, caregivers, teachers and students in their diverse workflow and workstyle requirements.

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[1] BBC Magazine. (2013). Calorie burner: How much better is standing up than sitting? BBC Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/ news/magazine-24532996.

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Obesity and Overweight. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/obesity-overweight.htm.

[3] Benden, M., Blake, J., Dornhecker, M., Zhao, H., and Wendel, M. (2015). The Effect of Stand-biased Desks on Academic Engagement: An Exploratory Study. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14635240.2015.1029641?journalCode=rhpe20. 

Future Classroom: Simple, Flexible...and Affordable

By Dan Case, Associate Director of Academic Technology at Carroll College

What We Know...

Classroom design influences levels of interaction, enthusiasm, and engagement. These aspects and active learning improve retention for all students, no matter what level of education they are pursuing.

A study from the National Training Laboratories in 2000 found that only about 5 percent of the information delivered through a lecture was retained. Compare that with retention rates at 50 percent for a discussion group and 70 percent for practice by doing. Even higher, at 80 percent, was retention of students teaching others. In the modern classroom, technology is ubiquitous, changing the learning landscape and demanding a learning style that is active and learner-centered. For the past five years, Carroll College in Helena, MT, has been modifying and perfecting a high tech flexible classroom that can be used in multiple ways with lots of technology possibilities for very low cost.

In recent years, educators are noticing a shift in teaching and its link to educational environments: active learning classrooms and the resources they require. Teachers are beginning to focus less on what they do and more on what the student does. They are keenly aware of what motivates students and how much time and energy each student gives to the learning process. Student involvement has become the main area of concern for teachers which is supported by teaching resources and techniques.

This is where classroom design can help to develop skills for future life and work, and where self-directed learning and collaborative problem solving are essential skills for success. Communication skills, diversity, critical thinking and problem solving, interpersonal skills, learning to learn, and personal responsibility are the focus of many educational institutions preparing students for the future.

After field testing and modifying the classroom design and function for 5 years, the team at Carroll College has expanded the concept that showcases collaboration options, flexible seating and configuration, wireless connectivity and multiple display devices that don’t get in the way of learning. Criteria were developed to encapsulate the following mantra for classroom design:

It has to be simple...flexible...and cost-effective. 
It's meant to be a collaborative, project-based environment.
There is no teacher station. It's simple, moveable, and even works well without technology.

Lessons Learned
1. Students love to have horizontal and vertical work spaces. Whiteboard paint has been a huge hit. We also realized that the cloud is the way things are going to go, and this type of environment lends itself to collaboration in the cloud.

2. Wireless Connectivity is key to the success of the room. Because all of the projectors have been placed on the network, students and teachers can easily mirror any PC, Mac or Chromebook to any (and up to 4) projectors at once. This free software has eliminated the need for elaborate, expensive switching devices, multiple dongles and adapters and the distraction of cords everywhere. 

3. Design can increase levels of student and faculty interaction through formal and informal means. When teachers can move around the room freely and easily connect with the students then the level of interaction improves significantly. Students who have a high level of interaction with their teachers are more likely to express satisfaction overall with their educational experience, resulting in better the outcomes. Also, comfortable classrooms—physically and psychologically— promote a sense of well-being, keep minds focused, and limit distractions.

About The Center for Innovation in Technology (CITE)
CITE stands for "The Center for Innovation in Technology," a collaborative workspace housed in Carroll College's Corette Library. The CITE is dedicated to exploring new ways to use technology to improve the delivery of education for 21st century students.  The CITE is also a place where students and professors can learn new techniques and new technologies to incorporate into their academic pursuits.  Staffed with two full-time academic technology specialists, Carroll College students and professors are able to take advantage of experienced mentors when undertaking a project that requires an unfamiliar technology.  Staff will assist students and faculty in producing high-quality digital projects without losing focus on the discipline-specific learning those projects are meant to support.



About Dan Case
Associate Director of Academic Technology at Carroll and the mind behind the Sandbox classroom.  A Carroll graduate, Dan has a variety of experience in academics and technology. He is a certified Extron A/V Specialist, a regular presenter on "getting out from behind the desk" at national conferences, and an all-around nice guy. Being able to design classrooms with both an AV/IT background and 20 years of teaching experience gives him a unique perspective on design and practicality. With a background in Political Science, skiing, burrito rolling and graphic design, Dan jumped into the web world and IT in the mid 90’s and hasn’t looked back. He has been teaching in Higher Ed for the past 22 years and now look at classroom design from a holistic view of pedagogy, technology and physical environment.

2017 Teacher Purchasing, Spending and Loyalty Survey

Research and report provided by Agile Education Marketing

Over the years studies have shown that teachers spend a lot of time researching and purchasing classroom materials to support their students. Wondering how you compare with your peers nationally?

This year, more than 600 teachers participated in Agile and SheerID’s fourth-annual Teacher Purchasing, Spending and Loyalty Survey. Representing primarily core classroom teachers in grades PreK-12, these individuals schooled us on how they shop for their classrooms every year. Here's how the stats report the story of how teachers support their students with out-of-pocket purchases, and the kinds of shoppers they are for their students. Below are the highlights of the study, with more information from SheerID and Agile Education Marketing available online. 

Teachers spend a significant amount on supplies and materials. To supplement tight budgets, teachers put some of their paychecks right back into their classrooms — about 11 percent, in fact. During the 2016-17 school year, teachers reported spending an average of $468 out-of-pocket on classroom supplies, and 77 percent said they spent at least $200. Some teachers even reported dishing out as much as $5,000 to purchase materials to supplement student learning.

Teachers value discounts — and are smart purchasers.
Teachers work hard for the money they earn, and they like to use discounts to help them stretch those dollars, particularly in these spending categories: office supplies, computers and electronics, restaurants, entertainment, travel, apparel, and software. In fact, 96 percent of teachers said they are more likely to purchase from a company that offers a teacher discount online when making classroom purchases. Teachers are smart purchasers, as sixty-three percent said discounts need to be at least 20 percent to capture attention.


Teachers conduct extensive research through a myriad of sources.
are so committed to keeping more money in their pockets that they’re willing to seek out great deals. Survey respondents said they learn about sales from a variety of sources. These include: word of mouth (71 percent), email (54 percent), social media (43 percent), online (39 percent), store websites (38 percent) and traditional print ads (27 percent).

Teachers shop for their classrooms often.
Though there is a buying push in the fall, back-to-school season isn’t the only time of year when teachers stock up on classroom supplies. Most survey respondents said they like to space out their purchases; 64 percent said they go on supply runs every month to every few months.

Teachers conduct product research independently and online. If teachers are going to invest their hard-earned money back into work, they’re going to do so wisely. These days, teachers rely less and less on marketing and sales to tell them what they need. Instead, they’re turning to search engines like Google for answers. Of the total survey respondents, 65 percent said search engines are their main source of information for teaching and learning, and 58 percent said the same for education products.

Teachers are tech-savvy consumers.
Many teachers complete their shopping online, with 40 percent of respondents reporting that they make school purchases on the Internet. Though a small group of teachers do report using devices such as tablets and smartphones for their transactions, most (78 percent) complete purchases from their laptop or desktop computers.

Teachers influence purchases, too.
Technology investments have long been considered an administrator responsibility. But, teachers are playing more of a role in the selection and purchasing of technology than you might think. Thirty-eight percent of teachers said they personally choose technology for their classrooms, while 28 percent offer input to a principal who makes the final purchase.

EDspaces 2017 Highlights

Hear from the experts.  Invest in your future.  Make new connections.

EDspaces 2017 is where education professionals and industry partners gather to exchange time, resources, strategies, and solutions. It’s also the place to get connected to the brightest minds in education leadership, then network with them all year long. Over three days of learning, growing, and finding inspiration, attendees are equipped with a year’s worth of support in their daily responsibilities as leaders in education environments.


A host of opportunities to personalize learning and enhance professional development with multiple accreditations provides "take-aways" back to the office. Groundbreaking ideas are shared, new learning technologies are unveiled and collaborations form that will impact classrooms everywhere. Claim your seat at the table among education’s most innovative change agents. If you haven't registered yet, there's still time onsite, you'll be welcomed by EDspaces staff, who will walk you through the process.


EDspaces by the Numbers:

    3 Days of Discovery
   40+ Accredited Sessions
    6 Facility Tours
    2 Pre-Conference Symposia
  200 Exhibitors
  100s of Connections

What's Happening @EDspaces:

• 40+ Accredited Sessions

• Sir Ken Robinson, internationally recognized education authority

• Jaime Casap, Google Education Evangelist
• EDfest: An All-Industry Celebration of Education-Focused Professionals
• Exhibits
• Innovative Classroom Designs on and off the exhibit floor

We're looking forward to seeing many of you in a revitalized Kansas City, the ideal setting for collaboration with thought-leaders enhancing the learning experience by focusing on the effect people, place, and pedagogy have on learning environments.

The Power of Flexibility

Photo Credit: Fleetwood Furniture

By Murray Hudson

There is evidence, both anecdotal and empirical, that the learning environment can have a significant effect on children’s progress and development.  Murray Hudson, Managing Director of Gratnells, looks at some of the innovative ways that environment is changing for the better

A teacher on his or her feet is worth two in the seat. It’s the latest call to action from an education world in the midst of transformation. Things are on the move. Indeed, there is no more front of the classroom, according to the new wave of educationalists. Among them is Alan Rheault, Chief Furniture Designer at Fleetwood Furniture, a Holland, Michigan-based manufacturer of school furniture since 1955 and one of the industry’s early adapters.

“There’s a legacy of innovation here,” says Rheault, pointing to Fleetwood as one of the first companies to make school furniture mobile by using wheels.  “And today, schools want teachers interacting with students and moving around different spaces,” he explains. “There’s also a strong desire for standing height desks. Sitting is the new smoking.”

The benefits of flexibility and mobility in the classroom are well documented, placing teachers in a better position to inspire students and create an environment conducive to achieving excellence.

“Good teachers know that however much they have learned in the past, today is a different day and you cannot ride yesterday’s horse,” commented Sir Ken Robinson, New York Times bestselling author, TED speaker, education and creativity expert. “This sort of responsiveness can rarely be achieved by standing in front of a room talking at a group of 25 or 30 kids for lesson after lesson…Such an approach to teaching by its very nature limits the possibility of connecting with each student individually.” (Creative Schools)

Another trend shaping the modern classroom takes its cue from those staple features of daily American life — the main street and the mall. Collaborative design is on the rise — library and cafeteria layouts are blending together and common areas like cafeterias are becoming the new study areas. This trend reflects an understanding that students learn well from other students. “It’s funny we’re catching on so slowly to this,” observes Rheault. “If you’re a parent trying to teach your child something, you see that as soon as they watch another kid do it they learn immediately. The question is how do you support that behavior?”

Supporting peer-to-peer learning by increasing flexibility in classrooms and study areas is one in a series of innovations already gaining traction. An increase in the flipped classroom — one that focuses on learning and study at home, followed with homework and collaborative projects at school — is changing the educational dynamic, as well.

“In the flipped classroom, rather than having a teacher stand in front of a group of students and lecture on a topic, the students get online instruction at home,” explained Sir Ken Robinson. “The class time is then used by the teacher for peer instruction to help students individually if they are having trouble, to engage students in conversation about the topic, and to challenge students who are already showing mastery.” (Creative Schools)

An increase in project-based learning is also blending disciplines together, creating a new climate that demands maximum flexibility in classroom design. Cabinet manufacturer Whitney Bros of Keene, NH, is responding to the trend. “Mobility trends are very popular and all the cabinets we’re making now are mobile,” says owner David Stabler. “Putting cabinets and storage on casters and organizing classrooms so you can put things away easily and change learning disciplines quickly — that’s where Gratnells trays come to the fore in terms of quick pull-out and put-away.”

Whitney is just one member of a community of progressive American manufacturers recognizing and responding to innovation in the learning environment. Similar innovations are occurring at Paragon, where are desks customized with front casters, permitting students to wheelbarrow stations across the room to fit the needs of the subject or project. Teacher desks are also mobile so they can be moved around or into other rooms by the teacher.

“Learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom,” observes Cindy Eggebrecht-Weinschreider of Paragon. “It can happen anywhere.” For this reason, Paragon’s entire product portfolio is mobile, reconfigurable and customizable to enhance learning, allowing teachers to engage students and students to become more engaged.

“It is remarkable what you can do if you’re given the right kinds of furniture,” commented Chicago-based architect Trung Le in the ground-breaking book The Third Teacher. “How agile you can make the space, how media-rich you can make it, how you can engage different modes of learning.”

One of the design world’s best-known disrupters, Le has been designing remarkable schools around the U.S. and the world for more than 25 years. He collaborated on the research project that became his internationally-regarded book on how design can transform the ecology of learning.

“It opens up many things,” says Le who we met at The Art Institute of Chicago. “We create places of learning like this and only once in a while do we take our kids there, ninety percent of the time they sit in a square room. My perfect vision of a classroom is that there are no classrooms. Maybe we can go back to the idea of sacred spaces like churches and plazas that connect people together. Imagine if a school is not a series of self-contained closed classrooms but a place of exploration and wonder. We create these spaces all the time, we just don’t call them schools.”

It’s quite clear that we all need space to learn. Professor Peter Barrett is the lead author of Clever Classrooms, an authoritative report on the link between the learning environment and academic improvement. “There is clear evidence that the physical characteristics of primary schools do impact on pupils’ learning progress in reading, writing and mathematics.”

In 2012, I set up the Learning Rooms project — www.learning-rooms.com — to investigate and promote best practice in the classroom environment. What we’re seeing now is a fundamental shift in attitude which has rapidly taken on a global context. As the organization sponsoring the appearance of Sir Ken Robinson at EDspaces this year, we are seeing a positive response from the U.S. market to our Learning Rooms philosophy within the classroom and beyond.

Education is happening everywhere and being everywhere demands flexibility.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Murray Hudson is Gratnells Managing Director and Chairman. He was Chairman of the British Educational Furniture Manufacturers Group from 2012 -2016. He spent a decade as a news and current affairs producer and reporter for the BBC, covering three U.S. elections and joined the family business in 2000.

EDspaces Education: Sir Ken Robinson is the plenary session speaker at EDspaces 2017. He will be speaking on “Creative Schools: Revolutionizing Education from the Ground Up” on Wednesday, October 25 at 9:30 am in Kansas City, MO. Sir Ken will be drawing on his ground-breaking books Out of our Minds: Learning to be Creative and Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution that’s Transforming Education, urging schools everywhere to rethink their basic assumptions about intelligence and achievement.

SOURCES:

• Creative Schools Revolutionizing Education from the Ground Up – Sir Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica ALLEN LANE; Penguin Random House 2015
• Clever Classrooms Summary Report of the Head Project. https://www.salford.ac.uk/cleverclassrooms/1503-Salford-Uni-Report-DIGITAL.pdf, Professor Peter Barrett, Dr Yufan Zhang, Dr Fay Davies, Dr Lucin da Barrett, University of Salford 2015