School Specialty will be showcasing a variety of furniture & equipment offerings for the 21st Century Classroom at the Education Market Association’s EDspaces conference. The conference and expo will take place October 28-30, 2015 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA.
As the Silver Sponsor of EDspaces, School Specialty will host one of only two complimentary Wi-Fi hotspots on the show floor (Booth #1344). This “Wi-Fi Lounge,” which will serve as a wireless hotspot for up to 30 users at a time, will simulate a flexible, learning commons area in a modern high school, and will include a range of innovative furnishings from School Specialty and its vendor partners. Attendees can take a break from exhibits, presentations and meetings at the lounge, where they can work or relax in a casual, comfortable environment.
Additionally, Cecilia Cruse, MS, OTR/L, an Occupational Therapist, Educator and Special Needs Subject-Matter Expert will present on “This Chair is Just Right! Understanding Sensory Processing as Part of Universal Design for Learning” on Thursday, October 29 at 8:00am CDT. The session will focus on innovative furniture & equipment that facilitates Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an educational initiative that accommodates all students, and a key concept for designing 21stCentury Learning spaces. Cruse will discuss sensory processing and the benefits of movement seating, including School Specialty’s Classroom Select® NeoMove™ and NeoRok™ furniture lines. These innovative seating solutions allow students to gently rock both front-to-back and side-to-side. Current research supports that movement helps with focus and attention, and may enhance the learning experience for many students, particularly those with unique special needs. Additional sensory components including touch, vision and sound input will also be discussed along with innovative ideas for classroom furniture and design.
Cruse noted, “Universal Design for Learning reduces barriers in instruction, while supporting, challenging and encouraging high achievement for all students, including those with special needs. UDL is a key concept of 21st Century Learning, as it stresses the implementation of fluid, multipurpose spaces that can be adapted for large groups, small teams, or individual learning activities. Outfitting these areas with flexible furniture & equipment is crucial to the modern learning experience. Research now supports the benefits of movement seating for many children with special needs, and these benefits are often an applicable and preferred option for all students. I am proud to partner with School Specialty at EDspaces given the Company’s innovative seating options in support of Universal Design for Learning, and look forward to further partnership opportunities with the Company in the future.”
Andrea Johnson, Director of Marketing – F&E and Early Childhood at School Specialty, commented, “We are excited to be back at EDspaces this year and are very thankful for the support of an industry thought leader as esteemed as Cecilia Cruse. We have always sought to provide the education marketplace with cutting-edge, proprietary product lines that bring advanced benefits to the modern student, and are proud that Ms. Cruse will include our Classroom Select movement furniture in her presentation. Given School Specialty’s partnerships with the vast majority of vendors exhibiting at the event, we hope to serve as a one-stop-resource for EDspaces attendees. Our customers have access to a wide array of furniture & equipment offerings, and we can provide expert insight on how to utilize the right tools to facilitate 21st Century Learning success uniquely for each end-user.”
EDspaces brings together all of the key stakeholders who design, equip and manage innovative learning spaces and the manufacturers, service providers and dealers who offer them solutions. EDspaces showcases the newest and most innovative products for educational facilities and includes a CEU-accredited (AIA, IDCEC, GCBI, TASBO) education conference focused on forward thinking, sustainable design and the changing impact of environments on learning. Find out more at www.ed-spaces.com.
