2017 MISBO Fall Conference

Constantly evolving technology and pedagogies provide teachers with new opportunities to engage students in learning and this often puts pressure on independent schools to change. Teachers and boards sometimes resist change and school leaders can find it difficult to gain internal support. Making the case for change becomes easier when faculty, students, and even parents are engaged in the design process and are able to test-drive new classroom concepts. The in-room experiences of teachers and students can also be used to refine the layout and design before whole-scale implementation. A flagship element of a new master plan for Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, Florida was the construction of demonstration classrooms that both enabled teachers and students to explore new classroom concepts and created enthusiasm from donors. In this presentation, participants will learn the impetus for a new master plan, how it was executed, and how the use of demonstration classrooms advanced the process. Attendees will participate in hands-on interactive group activities, learn how to set up demonstration classrooms in their schools, and explore the design of modern learning spaces.

CPE INFORMATION:
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization - Non-Technical
Learning Objective: Attendees will learn the strategies schools can use to build internal support for pedagogical change; the key design elements in flexible, collaborative, and adaptable modern classrooms; and how a master plan and demonstration classrooms can be leveraged as part of a school's capital giving and building programs.