PATHWAYS HIGH AWARDED NEW ACTIVE LEARNING CLASSROOM BY STEELCASE® EDUCATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Julia Burns

jburns@pathwayshigh.org

414-698-3424

PATHWAYS HIGH AWARDED NEW ACTIVE LEARNING CLASSROOM

BY STEELCASE® EDUCATION

Fifth annual grant program provides 12 schools and universities new classrooms to improve student engagement

Milwaukee, WI, March 27, 2019— Pathways High has been awarded an active learning classroom through the Active Learning Center (ALC) program, a grant initiative in its fifth year offered by Steelcase® Education. The grant program supports both educators and students by creating an environment that encourages engagement, collaboration and creativity.

Traditional classrooms are outdated. Immovable desks and chairs aligned neatly in rows lend themselves to rote memorization, not the variety of teaching strategies most educators use today. With the installation of a classroom valued at $67,000, Pathways High will positively impact teaching and support pedagogies for students eager to return to classes.

Beginning summer 2019 and ready by the fall, this Steelcase Education learning environment will be installed at Pathways High by Forrer Business Interiors. With a variety of flexible furniture choices, the Active Classroom invites students and instructors to adjust the environment to suit the flow of learning throughout a class period, enabling optimal conversation and collaboration.

"The Pathways High Real World Learning Model includes interdisciplinary seminars which are ideally suited for Steelcase Education’s Active Classroom. Our upcoming Learning Space Design seminar will leverage Pathways High student research from a current seminar, the Steelcase Active Classroom furniture, student/staff surveys, as well as traffic data from our Scanalytics, Inc. smart sensor floor to design learning space environments which improve student engagement and learning outcomes," said Angelique Byrne, Pathways High teacher. “’What School Could Be,’ our current seminar, and our collaborative work with partners like Scanalytics, Inc., Tarkett flooring, and now Steelcase, is enabling us to re-imagine school as an environment where all learners can thrive.”

“Learning space design research has been conducted for several decades in higher education. Scanalytics, Inc. is excited to contribute to the K-12 research being undertaken at Pathways High by providing a smart sensor floor generating anonymous foot-traffic data to support outcome measurement for the collaborative, smart classroom, “ says Joe Scanlin, Co-Founder and CEO of Scanalytics, Inc.

Pathways High student, Sentia Uwillingiyimana, sums up the excitement best. “I am more than grateful for this experience and I know this is all happening for a reason and hope that our research along with the Steelcase furniture will open doors for new projects with collaboration and innovation."

“Pathways High was chosen because of a demonstrated commitment to active learning,” said Craig Wilson, Steelcase Education director of market development. “Research shows that space impacts behavior, and these classrooms will help a new group of teachers/professors and students explore the learning possibilities an interactive space can bring.”

In addition to receiving a new classroom, Pathways High will receive training from Steelcase on how to use their new spaces and will have the opportunity to share insights and best practices with all awarded schools. Over the two-year program, Steelcase Education and Pathways High will partner together to conduct assessments and research on the impact of the newly designed space.

“We are so excited to be recognized by Steelcase Education for our efforts in promoting personalized, engaged learning with our students,” said Julia Burns, Co-Founder and Governance Board President of Pathways High. “With Steelcase Education’s support, we will continue this mission and foster better collaborations between students and faculty/teachers in the classroom.”

12 schools, colleges and universities were chosen for their distinguishing approaches to active learning and for their commitment to foster student success both in the classroom and beyond. For more information on the recipients, visit the Steelcase Education website.

About Steelcase® Education

As lifelong learners, Steelcase Education aims to make a difference in education. For students, educators and designers, the organization creates the most effective, rewarding and inspiring learning spaces. As a dedicated group within Steelcase exclusively focused on education, it brings evidence-based design, technology and innovative solutions to education environments, wherever learning happens.

About Pathways High

DIVERSE. REAL WORLD. NOW.

Pathways High, a free regional public high school, is dedicated to unleashing the full potential of all students. Today, innovation is disrupting every industry and societal institution. If these changes have taught us anything, it’s that there is not one, but many pathways to long-term success in the real world. As educators and caring adults, we must provide ALL young people with opportunities to pursue their unique pathways.

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