Steelcase Education Launches 2016 Active Learning Center Grant

The company will award up to 15 schools with a new active learning classroom valued at $62,000.

Steelcase active learning classroom

Steelcase's Active Learning Classroom 4

Schools across the United States, Canada and Mexico have an opportunity to win a new active learning classroom outfitted by Steelcase Education. The company has launched its second annual Active Learning Center (ALC) Grant, a program focused on how new learning spaces can impact student focus and collaboration.

Up to 15 grant recipients will receive $62,000 worth of Steelcase furniture and technology in one of four configuration options:

  • Active Learning Classroom 1, featuring Node seating for multi-modal learning;
  • Active Learning Classroom 2, with tiered Verb tables designed for conversation and collaboration;
  • Active Learning Classroom 3, a blended classroom that supports digital and face-to-face learning; and
  • Active Learning Classroom 4, a "makerspace" environment focused on hands-on problem-solving, ideation and experimentation.

The grant program also includes training as well as a community of practice for sharing insights and best practices.

The ALC Grant is open to technical and trade schools, schools serving grades six through twelve, and colleges and universities. New this year, schools can submit applications for their library and media center spaces.

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

The application deadline is Feb. 12, 2016; winners will be announced in March. For more information, including a list of the 2015 grant recipients, go to the Steelcase 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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