The type of furniture you choose for career and technical education (CTE) learning spaces can have a big impact on the instruction that occurs there. You’ll want to invest in tables, chairs, and other furnishings that facilitate high-quality learning experiences for students instead of getting in the way of instruction. Here are some key strategies for doing so.
Choose flexible, movable furniture that can support active learning.
The most effective CTE instruction involves hands-on learning activities in which students are working on authentic tasks and projects. Therefore, you’ll want to choose furniture that can support this more active style of learning.
Tables and chairs that are on casters can be moved around the room to create fluid, agile learning spaces that serve many purposes. These flexible furnishings can support active learning quite effectively.
With movable furniture, teachers and students can easily set up the room to support whatever activity they’ll be engaging in that day. What’s more, tables that fit together in multiple configurations — such as groups of three, four, or five — can support flexible group sizes for collaborative work.
Look for creative ways to store materials safely.
Equipment and materials will need to be stored safely and securely when not in use. Although traditional cabinets and storage units might meet your storage needs, you may find that space is at a premium.
To maximize your use of CTE learning spaces, consider using creative alternatives for storing materials. For instance, Diversified Woodcrafts makes two-person or four-person workbenches with built-in storage cabinets located conveniently underneath. Classroom Select manufactures mobile STEAM / robotics workbenches that accommodate multiple students and contain built-in storage for supplies.
There are also several mobile storage solutions to choose from. Luxor makes a wide variety of mobile carts with storage bins for materials. Copernicus makes a 3D printer cart that enables schools to share printing equipment among various departments, while keeping everything that students need to print their designs close at hand.
For more information about creating modern leaning spaces that effectively support CTE instruction, download our FREE guide, “How to Create Effective CTE Learning Spaces” today.
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Christina Counts, PhD
Dr. Christina Counts is a proven leader with a successful background in transforming learning spaces. Dr. Counts has worked in education for over 17 years with experience as a classroom teacher, district instructional leader, school administrator, and digital and innovative learning designer. As the Director of Design and Development for School Specialty, Christina leads a team of professionals that not only offer complete turnkey modernization solutions for schools, but also design and deliver professional development to support districts making the transition to a flexible, collaborative, student-centered learning space.
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