We are honored to be a part of Howard High School’s Transformation. This National Landmark sits in the heart of a wonderful city and will stand tall and proud for the next 100+ years.
Click on link to see how things have changed.
General Knowledge
Moving Target: Technology in the Classroom
One of the great challenges in modern learning space design is accommodating the shifts in technology that have come to the classroom. The pace of change is so rapid that we really have to plan for the unknown.
Perhaps the biggest question in deploying technology in the classroom is not the “what” but the “how.” Often, new devices are employed to support the same teaching methods from decades past. In a book we’ve referenced in previous posts, From the Campfire to the Holodeck: Creating Engaging and Powerful 21st Century Learning Environments, author David Thornburg notes that interactive whiteboards have become all the rage of late. These are wonderful and versatile tools, but when they’re used just as blackboards were – to support a teacher standing in front of a class and lecturing (the ‘campfire’) – the potential of all that new technology is diluted at best.
Thornburg also notes that many schools continue to ban classroom smartphone use by students for fear that the devices will be used to Google test answers or otherwise take shortcuts. The solution is to craft tests with answers that require independent thought and can’t be answered by an internet search, but in fairness that approach creates a much bigger demand on an educator’s already limited time, both in the creation and the grading of open-ended challenges. It’s much quicker to review multiple-choice answers than to assess the effort in independent research.
So when we don’t know what new technology the coming years will bring, and when different schools use the same technology in very different ways, where does that leave classroom design? What are the design elements that allow us to plan for the unknown?
In a word, flexibility. The same approach that allows a classroom to support different models of learning – and to quickly adapt from one to another – also supports ever-changing technology. The ideal modern learning space is a design chameleon, changing quickly to accommodate the teacher at the whiteboard, the students circled up with their smartphones to research a new assignment as a group … and whatever comes next year, and the year after that.
The Agile Classroom
Educational approaches have changed in so many ways – it’s been proven that the “stop fidgeting!” warning we heard over and over again was bad advice. Allowing for movement in the classroom is brain development in disguise. So how do we take a limited amount of space and accommodate the campfire and the watering hole, the fidgeting and time for quiet reflection?
The answer is in the agile classroom – a space that can be quickly reconfigured to address these different needs. The furniture is portable and convertible, creating spaces to engage different kinds of learners and teachers. We love the work we do in bringing creative solutions to educational environments
Campfires & Caves: A Look at Learning Environments
Douron is proud to be a part of the ongoing 21st Century Schools project launched by the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore (read about one example here), and our work on a Montgomery County high school was featured in this article in Bethesda magazine.
We’re really enjoying From the Campfire to the Holodeck: Creating Engaging and Powerful 21st Century Learning Environments, by David Thornburg.
The author takes a fresh look at learning spaces through the lens of traditional gathering places throughout human history, as follows:
Campfires: Where others gather to hear information and stories told by a single individual. Think of a traditional classroom or lecture hall … the educator is in the front of the room and everyone else is listening.
Watering Holes: Where monologue turns to dialogue and learning occurs through conversation. Consider the water cooler or lunchroom in your office.
Caves: Learning continues with quiet reflection in the cave, and if all goes well, knowledge becomes understanding. Any private room, or a study cubby at the library, fills the bill.
Finally, there’s Life, where all the learning above gets applied, but for our purposes let’s stick with the physical concepts of Campfire, Watering Hole and Cave.
Which one should a modern school have? All of them, and there’s the issue: the vast majority of traditional learning spaces are devoted to the Campfire, I-talk-and-you-listen approach. Schools need traditional classrooms and lecture halls to be sure, but they also need more collaborative spaces and places for quiet reflection. This is one of the issues we address regularly with our design work at Douron.
Contact Douron today to schedule a tour of our showroom for ideas for your next project.
Evaluating Price vs. Value Proposition
Consumer Value
In the hunt for the best price, consumers sometimes lose sight of value. To the detriment of the consumer, price and value are often regarded as the same thing. Value describes the overall benefit of a product or service. Price is just the number on the tag. When deciding what to buy, consumers benefit more from weighing the overall value.
What Does Value Mean?
Determining value requires looking at a variety of factors, including:
- Quality of a product
- Quality of a business’ customer relations
- Competency of the business
In other words, price alone doesn’t paint a full picture of what comes with a product or service.
Price Is Misleading
There are many cases where a higher price may actually mean a better value – for example, a consumer is seeking a quality product. Higher-quality materials cost more and may translate to a higher price. In terms of value, however, the consumer benefits more from quality because the product will work better and last longer.
Quality of customer relations is another hidden factor. Paying less for a product or service often equates to a lower standard of service. This can mean more time spent trying to find answers about products, placing orders, and resolving problems that may arise.
Finally, the competency of a business affects the value of its products and services. When a company consists of a well-organized team of experts, the consumer spends less time and effort, which increases overall value.
Contact Douron today to learn about our commitment to value for all our clients.
What’s Important to You?
Ultimately, each consumer determines what is most valuable for him or herself. The different factors that create value may be equally important to some; other consumers may weigh some factors more heavily than others. For example, some may be most concerned about product quality and consider this the most important aspect of value.
The bottom line is that price isn’t always an accurate reflection of the consumer experience. Customers are better served by considering the big picture and looking for value. For the best value in office furniture solutions, contact Douron today.
How Libraries and Media Centers Promote Learning
Promoting Learning
Libraries and media centers promote learning through intelligent layouts, functional furniture, and overall beautiful designs. Douron can provide your learning center with the perfect transformation you need to ensure the continuing growth of your students.
Kent School Library
Take Kent School in Chestertown, Maryland for example. For Kent School we designed and provided a library, wood shelving, study carrels, tables, chairs, and children’s furniture. The library has plenty of space for learning, comfortable chairs and tables, and cozy study spaces. With this type of environment, children are able to spread out among the tables for ample amount of workspace. They are also able to retreat to a more private, cozy study area or sit at a computer for research and learning. If you are looking for this type of library for your school, please contact us.
Owings Mills Learning Center
Another great example of a library promoting learning is Owings Mills Learning Center in Owings Mills, Maryland. This library is a joint usage library between the local community college and public library containing a two story learning center, computer labs, and study rooms. Douron designed a beautiful, modern, functional, and modern learning center through its use of furniture and technology. The furniture chosen for this library is stylish, multi-functional, and comfortable. The technology used throughout the center makes learning that much more easier and widely available to the public and students alike. The stylish details throughout the library provide a beautiful and modern design that inspires learning and creativity.
If you are looking to take your library or media center to the next level of learning then we are here to help. Douron has proven experience in promoting learning through functional furniture, stylish designs, comfortable spaces, and modern technology. Trust our dedicated staff to further your community’s growth. Please feel free to contact us anytime.
