Image Courtesy of Modern Teaching Aids

<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>School News </em></strong>collected insights from influencers in the
innovative learning space for you to check out ahead of 2019. </h3>



<p>FLEs are all about experimentation: Come up with a hypothetical blueprint you believe will suit your students&#8217; needs and run it by experts who have installed flexible classroom designs before so they can advise you on what works. </p>



<p><strong>This article was written for our print magazine, School News Term 4, 2018. Did you receive your copy?</strong></p>



<p>Give
it a go. Take note of how students use the end-result. Make adjustments.
There’s a reason we all call it a ‘flexible’ learning environment. You might even
be surprised by how children engage with furniture; what was purchased as a
table may quickly become a stool. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">And
there’s another aspect to all this: collaboration. </h3>



<p>In
his talk, ‘The future of work’, Mark Stevenson said: “The future of work, (and
millennials understand this), is much more about networks of collaboration,
where you don’t lead by having power over people, you lead by giving power to
people to co-create something, rather than being told to create something by
someone else.”</p>



<p>So,
let the kids collaborate rather than look over each other’s elbows, sat in rows
for exam prep. </p>



<p><em><strong>There’s a new style of classroom in town, and it’s not here for outdated aesthetic. VE Furniture’s Kellie Griffith takes us through her vision for ILEs.  ;</strong></em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Kingswood_College_05.17.004.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12780"/><figcaption>Image Courtesy of VEF Furniture</figcaption></figure>



<p>“Excite your students with something different whether it be shoeless learning; write-on surfaces, including desks, walls and windows; adding sound, courtesy of soft background music; offering a variety of seating with zoned areas. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Ivanhoe_East_Primary_School_05.17.005.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12781"/><figcaption> Image Courtesy of VEF Furniture </figcaption></figure>



<p>“Think mobile and colourful: Teaching students as they wish to be taught requires learning spaces that are multi-faceted and easily reconfigured to support teaching and learning approaches where students can connect, collaborate and communicate to maximise engagement.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IMG_8716.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12782"/><figcaption> Image Courtesy of VEF Furniture </figcaption></figure>



<p>“Create a collaboration hub to promote group discussion, teamwork and the sharing of ideas, experiences and opinions. Create a group study spot to process the information collected in the collaboration hub, share ideas informally and stimulate conversation and mentoring. Create a focussed retreat for individual study and quiet reading that allows for total concentration, void from distraction.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/MT-Waverley-PS.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12783"/><figcaption> Image Courtesy of VEF Furniture </figcaption></figure>



<p><em><strong>Ben Britten, the director of digital media at Corporate Initiatives, tells us what he thinks will be trending in the sector next year as educators continue to clip at technology’s heels. </strong></em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Marymede-College-Mernda-Victoria-1-Copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12773"/><figcaption>Image Courtesy of Corporate Initiatives</figcaption></figure>



<p>“Whether for larger assembly areas or smaller learning spaces, the LED display will be moving indoors over the next few years, enabling screens to be created to any size appropriate to a space. This is a game changer. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Marymede-College-Mernda-Victoria-2-Copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12774"/><figcaption>Marymede College, Mernda <br>Image Courtesy of Corporate Initiatives </figcaption></figure>



<p>“Unlike projection, LED display can be viewed in daylight and command attention. A new form of LED display has just been released with additional advantages for school use. This new generation product offers a smooth bonded surface that is both impact resistant and splash proof, useful attributes in a school environment.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Marymede-College-Mernda-Victoria-3-Copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12775"/><figcaption>Image Courtesy of Corporate Initiatives</figcaption></figure>



<p>“What
schools need to realise  ;is that LED
supply is best left to LED specialists as it is regenerative technology that
needs lifetime support. Ideally, it should also be optioned with an appropriate
sound and camera system in order to maximise the value it can deliver.”</p>



<p><em><strong>Sarah Deere-Jones, from Modern Teaching Aids, gives School News the lowdown on how new-build projects can facilitate exciting pedagogy. </strong></em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/AUR_Aurora-Furniture-Range.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12777"/><figcaption> Image Courtesy of Modern Teaching Aids </figcaption></figure>



<p>“Collaboration, communication and creation: these are three pedagogical tenets that innovative designs can bring to life. Versatile collaborative spaces resources are ideal for promoting critical and creative thinking and allow students the freedom to communicate clearly during group work; while formal and informal breakout spaces promote the ideology that learning can happen anywhere. Hands-on learning hubs, typically with a STEM focus, will ignite the creativity in each and every student.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/CS0100_kid.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12779"/><figcaption> Image Courtesy of Modern Teaching Aids </figcaption></figure>



<p>“The
goal is to encourage students to work collaboratively using high tech, low tech
or even no tech! Extending space to the great outdoors will further stimulate thinking.</p>



<p>“Ergonomic,
flexible and standing desks give students agency and give classrooms the
ability to cater to individualised learning styles. Stand-up learning resources
also encourage movement and active learning and are an essential addition to
any ergonomic learning space.”</p>



<p><em><strong>Resource Furniture senior product designer, Michael Merlino emphasises need for planning in the rush for innovation. </strong></em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Prisma-and-Tar-20-meeting-tables-Copy-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12772"/><figcaption> Image Courtesy of Resource Furniture </figcaption></figure>



<p>“Start with space planning. How will the space/s be used? Engage students and staff in the design process. Research shows they have a greater sense of belonging and ownership if they are actively involved in the design process. Learn how the teachers actually want to use and teach in the space before furniture shopping.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Breakout-meeting-tables-5-Copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12771"/><figcaption> Image Courtesy of Resource Furniture </figcaption></figure>



<p>“Provide a centralised common meeting and breakout space that students want to use. Fun and well-designed furniture, including soft seating options and a mix of small meeting tables and bench height tables provide furniture options with freedom.” </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Breakout-meeting-tables-1-Copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12769"/><figcaption>Image Courtesy of Resource Furniture</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>CASE STUDY:
Clever hub design for St Michael’s College</strong></p>



<p>The
new Lasallian Education Centre at St Michael’s College has been modelled on a
university hub design to prepare year 12 students for further education and
provide flexible learning spaces that caters for individual and group learning.
The new building not only enables increased capacity at the secondary campus
but also provides a contemporary, state-of-the-art learning facility for staff
and senior students.</p>



<p>The
open plan allows for flexible pedagogical styles that can be easily adapted due
to the design and state of the art technology options. Resource Furniture
provided a range of meeting, cafeteria and classroom tables and desks as well
as classroom and meeting chairs to complement both the space and learning
styles.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SN10-ADMIN-Innovative-Learning-Spaces-QUANTUM-LIBRARIES-3-Copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12765"/><figcaption>Image Courtesy of Quantum Libraries</figcaption></figure>



<p>Founding director Doug Stewart said: “This was a very innovative project that we at Quantum Library Supplies were very happy to be involved with. For this project, Woodridge North State School provided a very innovative design that not only housed the library resources but provided four teaching areas of varying sizes.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SN10-ADMIN-Innovative-Learning-Spaces-QUANTUM-LIBRARIES-1-Copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12766"/><figcaption> Image Courtesy of Quantum Libraries </figcaption></figure>



<p>“The idea was that some areas could be increased or decreased depending on the requirement of the day. By using the Sterling range of shelving, they have a robust shelving system encased in an attractive melamins framework that provides the complete range of shelves.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.school-news.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SN10-ADMIN-Innovative-Learning-Spaces-QUANTUM-LIBRARIES-2-Copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12767"/><figcaption> Image Courtesy of Quantum Libraries </figcaption></figure>

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