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Get a Free Active Learning Classroom from Steelcase Education

Steelcase Node Classroom

Steelcase's Node seating, arranged in small group project mode

North American schools and universities have an opportunity to outfit an active learning classroom for free through a new grant program from Steelcase Education.

Valued between $35,000 and $50,000, the Active Learning Center Grant will cover the furniture, integrated technology, design, installation and post-occupancy evaluation for an active learning classroom designed for 28 - 32 students. Recipients can select from three classroom options: Verb classroom, with furniture designed for easy shifts between lecture, discussion and project work; Node classroom, with a focus on mobile, flexible seating; and Blended classroom, which allows instructors and students to choose the best space for the activity at hand.

Grant recipients will receive training from Steelcase on the uses of the technology and furniture in their new spaces. For two years, Steelcase will also evaluate student and educator engagement in the newly designed spaces using the company's Active Learning Post Occupancy Evaluation. A community of practice will enable all awarded schools to share insights and best practices.

According to a press release, "Applicants to the program will be asked to describe their approach to active learning and how a new classroom will positively impact teaching, learning and support active pedagogies. Grantees will be selected based on their commitment to active learning strategies, how they will measure success and how they will share their learnings with the broader education community."

Open to schools in the United States and Canada from grade 6 to the college/university level, the grant program will fund and research up to 15 Active Learning Centers per year. The deadline for grant proposals is Feb. 27, 2015; awardees will be announced in April.

For more information, visit the Steelcase Education site.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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