Classroom design is becoming more flexible and accommodating.
New year, new classroom, right? As teaching and learning techniques evolve, so too do the needs of the classroom. It’s important for teaching professionals to learn how to build better spaces that foster engagement and collaboration. Here are a few things we expect to shape the way schools approach learning spaces in the new year.
Flexible Classroom Design
One hallmark of modern learning spaces is flexibility. Teachers are increasingly trying to find ways to use all of the classroom, whether students are working in groups or completing assignments individually. Every part of the room can be used for something different and teachers that leverage that idea are better able to engage multiple groups of students at once. This also means that how classroom furniture is designed must change. Teachers are making more use of casters on tables, as well as chairs and seats that can swivel. As conversations move across the classroom, so too must the tools we use to accomplish our work.
Smarter Spaces
Desks in a row don’t take up much space. The challenge for modern, flexible classroom designs is that they often demand more space that is not always readily available. To overcome this, it’s important to focus on what furniture and technology is needed for each particular learning space. Some classrooms are being divided into zones where students can work with a different set of equipment, such as lab benches or oval tables for discussion, or another area for surface projection.
Integrated Technology
Many of the advances we’ve seen in education over the past few years have been made possible with the integration of technology. As smart devices continue to play a larger role in our lifestyles, it’s important to make sure they are readily accessible with built-in power and power-enabled furniture. Because schools are not always designed to properly support modern technology demands, furniture with built-in power is all the more necessary. This also places greater emphasis on the need for smart storage solutions such as movable storage and wall-mounted solutions.
Educational Furniture from Glover Furniture
Looking to create a better classroom? Glover Furniture can help. Glover Furniture and Design Group is a woman-owned and operated business that serves the Delmarva region with educational, institutional, and commercial furniture and design services. For information on how we can optimize your office design, give us a call at 1-800-966-9016 or contact us online. To see examples of our work and stay in touch, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.