Learning Environments

Designing with Empathy

Considering the diversity, complexity, and pervasiveness of stress in schools and its impact on learning and health, it is essential for school facilities to provide holistic support for students and teachers. Learning environments need to be more than just a space to learn— they need to be restorative spaces that provide a sense of safety and security, respond to individual students' needs, and facilitate counseling and mentoring by staff and mental health professionals. By understanding the struggles and stressors students and staff might be carrying with them into the classroom, it is possible to implement design strategies that put health and wellness first, starting at the very beginning of the visioning and design process.

Chloe Hosid, M.Sc.
Technology

Keys to Digitally Liberating Students Globally

The digital divide is not a new challenge that resulted from the pandemic; however, it did bring the issue to the forefront of conversation as digital equity became a critical component for daily instruction in remote and hybrid learning environments. Our responsibility is not only to help students cross this divide, but democratize digital access for every child to help them achieve their greatest potential.

Elliott Levine
Experiential Learning

Outside Insight:Creating Outdoor Learning Environments that Work

Creating an outdoor learning space is simpler than most think and educators will see the return on this creative investment quickly. After spending the last year mostly indoors, isolated, and in front of a screen, it’s more evident now than ever that young students crave connectedness with the natural world.

Jema Estrella  |  Shaun Hawke  |  Virginia Marquardt, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB
Sales & Marketing

Let’s Get CreativeFocus on the benefits of your product or service

Together, copy and design represent the resources available to us to communicate our products and services through direct mail and email. A good designer can make a copywriter appear brilliant, and vice versa.

Bob Stimolo
Member Spotlight

Meet Brian Basanda

Meet Brian Basanda, Dealer Principal at Brezach Solutions Inc. Read Brian's views on the impact we have on the continued growth and success of the younger generation by creating inspiring and engaging spaces.

Brian Basanda
President’s Perspective

Empowering Learning Through Innovation

At EDspaces 2021 EDmarket is launching the Patent Recognition Program to celebrate these innovative companies and make sure those who are developing the ideas of the future are recognized for their investment, ingenuity, and commitment to student success.

Jim McGarry
Special Feature

EDproducts Gallery

See what’s new for the coming school year by visiting the EDproduct Gallery. EDspaces attendees (purchasing officials, superintendents, architects, facility planners and distributors) use this special section to preview hot products they will see at the event and to reach out for more information.
Facilities & Infrastructure

Accomplishing More Without Building MoreCreating Effective Learning Spaces in Existing Buildings

As education evolves to meet the demands of the twenty-first century, changes in pedagogy are driving changes in facilities for teaching at all grade levels, as well as in the infrastructure systems which support learning. While a new building can offer the opportunity for a custom-tailored institutional fit, existing campus buildings are valuable resources and the benefits of renewing an existing structure often outweigh those of new construction.

Jonathan Rollins AIA, NCARB
Learning Environments

Why Inclusive Design Matters

Campuses are unique in the important role they play in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment outside the classroom, particularly for those who have been historically underserved. A participatory and engaging design process gives everyone a voice — an opportunity to shape their future facilities.

Carissa Shrock Oyedele, AIA, LEED BD+C  |  Jeanne Chen, FAIA  |  John Ruble, FAIA
Community Engagement/Equity

Can Public-Private Partnerships Work in K-12?We believe the answer is “yes” — but a P3 is not the right answer for every district

As K-12 school districts around the country spent this past summer working tirelessly to get their facilities ready for the new year and welcoming students back after a tumultuous 2020-21, a series of groundbreakings took place in a suburban Maryland county outside of Washington, DC that could be viewed as “groundbreaking.”

Jeff Bonvechio
Environmental / Healthy Classrooms

Designing Spaces With Social Health in Mind

Educational spaces present a unique opportunity to improve the social health of people who use them. When spaces are designed with social health in mind, people can interact effortlessly with each other and the space. The space is prepared for anyone at any stage of life, from parents with infants through elders.

Adam Berkeley  |  Angela Adler
Learning Environments

Using Story-Driven Facility Design to Engage Users and Inspire Transformation

Taking the time to create story-driven design solutions for schools helps to drive buy-in, consensus, and engagement for all stakeholders, leading to more efficiency in the design and construction processes. It solidifies a sense of pride in place and community for every student. In the case of an underserved student population, this can prove to be an immense catalyst, aiding transdisciplinary abilities and pathways to success, where education and development coincide.

Olivia Graf Doyle
Space and Pedagogy

Blueprint for Learning – Spotlight: Pittsburgh, PA, Home of EDspaces 2021

In 2019, Reimagine America’s Schools partnered with Pittsburgh-based Remake Learning to host the Blueprint for Learning grant program. Through this program, sixteen organizations and agencies in the western Pennsylvania region each received a $50,000 grant to redesign a portion of their space in support of Active Learning, Learner-Centered, and Next Generation learning initiatives.

Sarah W. Dirsa, AIA, LEED AP, NOMA, SEED
Distribution Trends

5 Steps for Selecting Highly Productive Sales Reps

Education market companies can have the best products imaginable, but unless they have highly productive Sales Reps, the companies make no money. This underlines the super-importance of your education market company selecting job applicants who become “Superstar” Sales Reps, that is, they are both highly productive and low turnover. Unfortunately, a lot of education market companies hire Sales Reps who produce only average or below-average sales results!

Dr. Michael Mercer