Steelcase University

Steelcase University is a philosophy of instruction that combines old and new ways of teaching. It began as a prototype classroom developed primarily for college-level courses; along the way, its users discovered it is ideal for any learning.

During the summer we had many teachers and members of the community visit Steelcase University classrooms to see how it works. We plan to introduce this philosophy of instruction to Fremont High School social studies classes this October.

Studies show that the optimal number for group work is 7. A Steelcase University classroom is square, with four tables that seat 6 or 7 aligned like the spokes of a wheel. The room arrangement, by itself, presents a different way to teach – there is no “front” of the room – and is set up for maximum group interaction.

Video screens in the room are triangulated so that every student can see a screen without turning in their chair. One “smart” board, a huge, computerized screen that reacts to the teacher’s touch as they point out things in the lesson, is projected onto the video screens.

Whiteboards are mounted on the room’s sidewalls; “huddleboards” are attached to the whiteboards. A huddleboard is a smaller version of a whiteboard, about the size of a newspaper. It can be removed from the whiteboard, set on a tripod and taken to the tables, where the students huddle around it with magic markers. The results of their group work are replaced on the whiteboard for later discussion and review.

A copy camera, installed in the ceiling, takes pictures of the marked-up whiteboards for later use. The photos are relayed to a website, which students can access for review.

The unique room configuration improves the teacher’s ability to move around the room to help the groups. The use of technology promotes interaction and learning – from large group, to small group, and back to large group.

Steelcase University is a cutting-edge advance in teaching and learning, and we are eager to utilize its many advantages today.

 

John D. Kingsnorth
Superintendent
Fremont Public Schools
(231) 924-2350
jkingsnorth@fremont.net