Ed Tech Blog
Why Collaborate?
Collaborative spaces in education trickled down from corporate “flex/open workspaces.” They were designed based on the understanding that interactivity and collaboration in small groups produces stronger solutions that would have not been reached individually and encourages sharing of research for enhanced learning. Further, it encourages trust building, communication, practical learning/ application, acceptance and enhances problem solving skills.
These rooms are relatively inexpensive, usually not exceeding $6,000-$10,000 for the entire space.
Collaborative Learning: Support for the Expanding Trend
Collaboration affects personality: increases openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness, trust, interactivity and stability
Teamwork strengthens community bonds, socialization and communication
Collaboration increases measures of achievement in educational settings (assessments)
Where is the Collaboration Space going?
Educational clients are moving toward pre-packed, expandable, scalable and future-proof systems. The more flexible with regard to space, users, time to access and connectivity, the more useful, efficient and effective the space will be.
Aside from education, the huddle space began in flexible office spaces in corporate environments- for the same reason explained above and will continue to grow in this market. The definition of a huddle space seems less defined in this market because individuals are using them for smaller meetings and video-conferencing collaboration as well- which is not what they were original designed for, but the flexibility, again, is what makes them so useful and in demand. The healthcare market has also seen an increase in demand for small collaborative spaces with videoconference capabilities.
Benefits: Why HuddleVU?
The HuddleVU is perfectly designed with educational users in mind. It is intuitive to use- just plug in using colored cables and press the corresponding colored button. A very durable, made of steel constructed table box that won’t break under high use- built with kids and adults in mind. Both HDMI or VGA connections are available with other...
Read more: Get in the Huddle: Summarizing Small Group Work Space
Collaboration and active learning aren’t just buzz words to educators. They are clearly the keys to successful student engagement. In fact a study published on pnas.org indicates that “failure rates under traditional lecturing increase by 55% over the rates observed under active learning.” This is impressive evidence that investing in active learning pedagogy and supporting technologies can affect student performance. Beyond that, collaboration strengthens community bonds, socialization, communication and trust among team members. Unfortunately, one of the biggest obstacles to the expansion of collaboration and small group work spaces in K-12 is budget. Creating an outline of the type of collaborative learning space needed for the environment will help manage precious time and eliminate costly errors due to overbuying or buying inappropriate equipment.
1) Portable or fixed installation- Do you have allocated space in the library, oversized classroom, computer lab? What are the intended uses for the space? Will the space be occupied by modular flex desks or fixed tables?
2) Durability- No questions here- you need durable equipment that will stand up to high use and the inquisitiveness of children. Put the sleek, sexy equipment down, it probably isn’t right for your school.
3) Reliability and network- This...
Read more: 6 Points to Consider When Designing Group Work/Collaboration Spaces in K-12
Collaborative learning technologies are enhancing the way students absorb, retain, interact with and relate to information. Designed specifically for educational environments in mind, FSR's HuddleVU and HuddleVU Flex collaborative learning systems are flexible packaged spaces that are intuitive to use, built to last in high use student centered areas, and that don't require software downloads or wireless access.
The HuddleVU family offers economical, durable, and flexible collaborative learning systems to supplement new technology instruction and strategies in the ever-changing world of education. Check out some of the HuddleVu options here.
