School Specialty Helps Create a Pioneering 21st Century High School Unique design elements and flexible furnishings come together for collaborative learning. It’s no secret that today’s modern school has little in common with the schools of the 20th century. Gone is the educational assembly line, replaced with environments as flexible as they are functional. […]
Search Results for: 21st Century
Hazelton Academy of Sciences – Case Study
From Playing Catch-Up to Leading the Way A Breakthrough STEM Academy and Its Adaptable Design Science, technology, engineering, and math have become focus areas at every level of American education. Our students simply lack the knowledge and opportunities in these fields that students in other countries enjoy. This affects a student’s marketability in an […]
Designing Effective Specialty Spaces in Schools
We know the design of a classroom significantly affects the type and quality of the learning experiences that students have in that environment—and therefore the educational outcomes that students achieve.1 The same holds true for other school spaces, too. A well-built space is one that is carefully designed to support its intended purpose. As […]
Designing Modern CTE Classrooms: Four Keys to Success
The career and technical education (CTE) students experience today is very different from the old vocational model of a generation ago. Modern CTE is about preparing students for college and a high-demand career in rapidly evolving fields such as medical science, IT, or industrial technology while also providing a path for students who do […]
How to Create More Dynamic Learning Environments
Schools in Focus Podcast Featuring Sue Ann Highland PODCAST: Creating More Dynamic Learning Environments Dynamic learning environments are more active and engaging for students than the traditional, factory-era model in which students sit facing the front of the classroom while the teacher speaks. They are more likely to help students learn key 21st-century skills […]
Common Misconceptions & Benefits of Coding
When students have the opportunity to code it gives them a chance to learn the logic and patterns of coding, and like learning a new language, opens doors to more creative projects and problem-solving skills. Our STEM/Science Subject Matter Expert, Naomi Hartl, interviewed Emily Johb, a 4th-grade educator, to discuss some myths when it […]
Fun At-Home Activities to Support Coding Without a Device
When children learn to code, they are not just focusing on computer science skills, they are learning specific 21st-century skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and communication. There is a big concern with teaching children to code as some families are worried about the amount of screen time their children will get. There are […]
Creating a Continuous Learning Culture Through Smart Learning Space Design
It’s the dream scenario for every educator: Once class ends, students continue the discussion on their own outside the classroom—or maybe they’re so engaged by the topic that their curiosity is piqued and they want to look up more information for themselves. Is your school building designed to support these continuous learning opportunities effectively? […]
Hursey Montessori School Case Study
As part of a district-wide initiative to reinvent its libraries, Malcolm C. Hursey Montessori School in Charleston County, South Carolina, has transformed its media center from a place for quiet study to an active hub for creativity and collaboration. Aided by School Specialty, the school’s library now supports 21st-century learning much more effectively. “Our […]
10 Tips for Implementing Flexible Seating
Getting students up and out of their seats throughout the school day is an important strategy for boosting achievement. And flexible seating is a great way to do this. Who wants to sit in the same boring, uncomfortable chair all day? Giving students choices in where to sit, and encouraging them to move around […]
How Active Learning Improves Student Outcomes
Active learning is an approach to instruction in which students are actively engaged in the learning process, instead of just sitting and taking in information. Research suggests that it’s more effective at promoting deeper learning and understanding than traditional “sit and get” approaches—and it benefits students in other ways as well. Active learning can […]
These Three Schools Have Created Game-Changing Learning Environments. Here’s How
Game-changing learning environments give students agency over their learning. They make students feel connected to the school community. They leverage technology to support instruction. And they introduce flexibility to meet the needs of every student. These features (and others) have the potential to transform teaching and learning and improve student outcomes dramatically. That’s what […]