Education Fit-Out and Refurbishment
There are a number of factors to consider when planning an educational furniture fit-out and refurbishment project. These include sustainability, flexibility, technology and visual appeal. The aim of a new space is to create a multipurpose educational workspace that can be used for many different purposes.
Designing a multipurpose educational workspace
A multipurpose educational workspace is a great way to enhance student and staff engagement. This space is flexible, open and connects all elements of the school’s curriculum. It is also a place where smaller neighborhoods and the school’s academic community can meet and collaborate.
In a multipurpose educational workspace, teachers can feel supported and have more flexibility to reconfigure spaces and change programming. They can also use movable or foldable walls to create project-based learning spaces and quiet reading areas.
The primary goal is to reinforce pride of place and to promote a welcoming and warm atmosphere. This can be achieved by opening the line of sight between adjacent spaces. By using movable partitions to accommodate different group learning sizes, students and faculty can work in close proximity.
Technology
Technology in education fit-out and refurbishment can enhance learning in a variety of ways. For example, it can enable distance education, increase learner engagement, and facilitate differentiated instruction. However, technology can also be a distraction to students and teachers.
It is important to take a holistic approach to technology in education. This can involve defining objectives, assessing existing technologies, and considering parents and educators. In addition to identifying how to improve student performance, education technology should also offer quality materials and engage learners.
Education systems in developing countries will likely have different needs when implementing ed-tech interventions. Moreover, school systems may be different in terms of the available infrastructure and resources.
As a result, it is essential to understand the local context. Surveys and other instruments can be used to collect information about the educational system and the existing technology. They can also help decision makers expand the use of technology.
Flexibility
The education sector is undergoing a paradigm shift. This includes a rethink of the pedagogical core as well as the design of innovative built learning environments. Among other things, these innovations have the potential to expand the range of credentials available to students.
One important way of achieving this is by facilitating student engagement. Flexible learning spaces enable students to actively participate and collaborate with their peers. In addition, they are also thought to improve academic outcomes.
While the benefits of flexible learning spaces are clear, there is little evidence on how they influence behaviour in the classroom. For this reason, randomized trials are needed to examine the effects of habitual behaviour in these spaces.
To investigate the potential of flexible learning spaces, we conducted a school-based cross-over trial in a selection of public schools in New South Wales, Australia. We compared how teachers and students engaged with the new spaces with their more traditional counterparts.
Sustainability
Sustainability in education fit-out and refurbishment has evolved over the years. Today, educational spaces are designed with visual appeal and flexibility. They are focused on creating positive social impacts, while maintaining a high degree of functionality.
Sustainable buildings provide an array of benefits. Energy efficiency, reduced operating costs, and improved occupancy and retention rates are just a few. While the total return on investment depends on the specific goals, sustainable buildings have been shown to increase property values by 7.5%.
In addition to the economic advantages, a sustainable building can reduce the energy use, water use, and waste created by a facility. In addition, a building that is certified by a green building rating system will offer increased rental and sales premiums for developers and investors.