21st Century Desks for 21st Century Learning

| Mark Tiongco

While we know it is not uncommon to hang on to traditional open front student desks due to budgetary constraints, there will come a time where dilapidated desks and evolving curriculum will create learning friction as well as the law of diminishing return which are not conducive for the student learning environment.  A modern classroom desk contributes to critical student development which includes skills such as peer communication, teamwork, and adaptability that will be invaluable to students in their future careers.

When shopping for a modern student desk, here are three elements to help guide you in your search:

Modularity

It’s no secret that modularity is a common theme in today’s 21st century classroom furniture.  Desks that can be reconfigured and easily moved are important for tentative lesson schedules that often change at the last-minute.  In addition, this modularity helps accommodate changing preferences (i.e. some teachers would like the classic individual desk row configuration while others want them grouped together).  The Method Polygon Table by Scholar Craft offers ample student work space with a modular footprint to help students get work done more efficiently.

Method Polygon Table by Scholar Craft

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Maximizing Classroom Dry Erase Boards

| Mark Tiongco

Dry erase boards have been around for decades, being utilized in academic learning environments as well as being a staple in company conference rooms.  However, modern innovations have improved the concept of “dry erase” to make group learning more efficient and accommodate changing situations for better productivity.  Having dry erase boards that complement each other ensures students can collaborate and visualize their ideas while allowing teachers to customize and adapt lesson plans for both group and individualized learning.

Here are several dry erase solutions to help guide in picking what’s right for your learning environment:

Wall-Mounted Dry Erase 2.0

While traditional dry erase whiteboards have eclipsed old chalkboards (which date back to the 19th century), there have been many recent advancements that make these boards better and better.  Some of these innovations include a frameless design to help utilize extra board space while providing an attractive and elegant appearance.  Materials such as porcelain-coated steel with aluminum help with mounting on a curved wall while minimizing dry erase ghosting after repeated use.  The Elemental Frameless Dry Erase Board by Best-Rite offers a wall-mounted dry erase board that also doubles as a projection screen that contributes to a seamless transition between lesson plans.

Elemental Frameless Dry Erase Board by Best-Rite

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Bulletin Boards to Welcome Spring in Elementary Classrooms

| Mark Tiongco

With spring upon us and summer just around the corner, now is the time to examine school operations and determine what improvements need to be made with regards to logistics and resources as students will soon be out on summer vacation.  Efficiency is always crucial to ensure students are promptly informed and know where to go for events and classroom changes considering the first few days of a new school year are always hectic.  A bulletin board that can be easily updated, deployed, and transported ensures students get to where they need to go in a prompt and efficient manner.

When considering a bulletin board for your school, it’s important to examine these several factors to help you pick the right one:

Mobility Matters

Last minute issues occur all the time.  Whether it’s one or several classrooms that become instantly uninhabitable due to plumbing, electrical issues or pesticide fumigation, the idea is to have a way to quickly notify students directly about classroom time, location, and event changes on the spot without having to search for a wall-mounted announcement section.  The Satin Aluminum Sentry Message Center by Ghent provides a secure and practical bulletin board solution that can be moved to any high foot traffic area for keeping everyone in the loop on changing events.

Satin Aluminum Sentry Message Center by Ghent

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The Importance of Quality Conference Room Furniture

| Mark Tiongco

The conference room of any organization represents its culture, style, and professionalism.  Some organizations such as law offices and large multinational companies opt for a conference room that exudes a traditional, yet contemporary ambiance which is consistent with century-old firms while others go for a sleek, elegant, and trendy appearance to reflect its forward-looking culture.  IN today’s 21st century, we are also seeing a continued integration of technology in many aspects of the corporate arena.  Investing in modern conference room furniture projects your organization’s culture in a professional manner while simultaneously enhancing productivity with the integration of technology.

Here are several factors to consider when looking for conference room furniture:

Style

According to Jen Zobel Bieber who is a life coach based in New York,

“People draw opinions about who we are and how we operate based on what our space looks like, sounds like and even smells like,”

It’s human nature to form preliminary opinions about new places such as a new school, new employer facility, or new potential business venture office.  Having a conference room that visualizes your organization’s mission statement is critical to ensuring visitors, guests, and prospective clients feel comfortable, welcome, and get a solid first impression of your organization.  The PL Series Conference Table and Segmented Leather Conference Chair by NDI Office Furniture provides a classic, modern, and universal appearance that can accommodate different corporate cultures, non-profit organizations, and even library study rooms.

Pl Series Conference Table by NDI Office Furniture

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