Blogs — stem classroom

Our Projects: Victoria Park Christian School

Victoria Park Christian School is a unique educational institution committed to offering an outstanding education while embracing the power of nature-inspired learning. With a focus on delivering a holistic education that integrates outdoor classrooms and nature play areas, the school strives to create an inspiring educational environment.

In partnership with Office Line, Victoria Park Christian School undertook a project to furnish its new teaching block, including four General Learning Areas (GLAs) for early learning years and a small admin area. The school sought furniture that not only provided functionality but also aligned with its vision for a natural aesthetic, complementing the nature-play playground in front of the classrooms.

 Project Overview:

The project involved the design and furnishing of the new teaching block at Victoria Park Christian School, in collaboration with Matthews & Scavalli Architects. The facility included four GLAs designed for Pre Primary, Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 students, accommodating 24 children per GLA. Additionally, a small administrative area with three workspaces was created. An existing GLA for Kindy students was also part of the project.

To meet the school's vision of a natural aesthetic and durability, Office Line provided a range of furniture and soft furnishings, including:

• Cubs Range: Developed specifically for early learning years, this furniture range was chosen for its practicality and comfort. The range includes many types of furniture, such as tables, chairs, stools and benches – all made from high-quality solid European beech. Each piece has been designed and manufactured with children in mind.  Sharp edges and corners have been removed, and non-toxic raw materials have been used throughout.

• Tetris Lounges: These lounges offer flexible seating options for students and teachers, contributing to a dynamic learning environment.

• Flexistack Units: Versatile and space-efficient, these units facilitate organised storage and seating arrangements in the classrooms. Combining the Gratnells trays and runners with a full melamine cabinet, they are available with various tray combinations, and we even offer a model with a comfortable seat pad to meet the needs of any flexible learning area.

• Teacher's Armchair (Saba): These armchairs, with timber legs and upholstered in Rosie Paine Fabric, provide a comfortable and stylish seating option for educators. Moreover, embrace the Aboriginal culture and teach kids about it from an early age. 

• Heavy-Duty Bean Bags: Designed to withstand daily use, these bean bags offer students a comfortable and flexible seating alternative. They are also a great alternative for neurodiverse kids. 
• Dot Mats: These mats provide a soft and clean surface for various classroom activities.

• Custom Eduflex Square Desks: Three 1500x1500 square desks were customised for Year 1 to allow for group activities and collaborative learning.
• Play and Sensory Furniture: Various play and sensory furniture items, including a Shopping/Theatre Stand, dress-up trolley, and Play Kitchen, were incorporated to enhance interactive and imaginative learning.

The choice of fabric was critical to achieving the desired aesthetic and durability. Combining Rosie Made fabrics and Warwick Key largo in shades like 'Navy,' 'Sky,' 'Atlantic,' 'Marigold,' 'Paprika,' and 'Pumpkin' created a vibrant and cozy atmosphere in the classrooms. Office Line also provided Eduflex Bean Bags in 'Red' and 'Dark Blue' Marine grade vinyl to match the school's colour scheme.

The partnership between Office Line and Victoria Park Christian School resulted in a teaching block seamlessly integrating with the school's commitment to nature-inspired learning. The furniture selected not only met functional requirements but also contributed to a welcoming and nurturing environment. The chosen materials and fabric ensured longevity and ease of maintenance, aligning with the school's vision of providing an outstanding and sustainable educational experience for its students.

The power of flexible learning spaces

In recent years, more schools are beginning to adopt learning spaces that allow students to work in different spaces that facilitate more open-ended learning and collaboration. Students and teachers alike have been celebrating these new types of learning environments that encourage students to take ownership over their own learning and be accountable for their own education.

The idea of letting children play and learn without the constraints of a formal classroom is not new; both Montessori and Waldorf schools, for example, are based on this idea. But it has been difficult to measure the effect these environments have comparing with a traditional classroom setting.

A study performed by the Gensler Research Institute measured the impact on students' attention and engagement in an enhanced learning environment, one that was flexible and mobile enough to provide students with opportunities to choose their own activities, learn from one another, and engage in hands-on work. The results found that students in the enhanced space spent less time learning from the teacher and more from one another and by themselves, reporting an increase in the efficacy across all learning modes—that is, an improvement in their ability to focus, collaborate, acquire, and convey information in the learning space.

The research also showed a higher productivity and commitment, thanks to the feeling of support by having the chance to work collaboratively with one another in a social setting and experiencing greater feelings of connectedness, which further create a positive association toward the school itself.

In addition to this, the role of presenter seamlessly shifts between teacher and student; as such, they were able to interact with the material at a deeper level than they could have when they were passive receptacles for information.

If you're interested in creating your own flexible learning space, there are some simple changes you can make. Many people are surprised to find that there is a huge difference between an ordinary classroom and a classroom designed to allow for flexibility in learning.

At Office Line, we believe education can be transformed by design, which is why our goal is to create spaces that support collaboration, bring students and teachers together and encourage creativity, our expertise can help you create the perfect space for your school.

Our experts are ready to assist you on the journey. give us a call 1800 762 460 or email us: info@officeline.com.au

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