Steelcase Education Launches Third Annual Grant To Award Forward Thinking Schools With Active Learning Classrooms

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Dec. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Steelcase Education launched the third annual Active Learning Center (ALC) Grant cycle, a program that provides modern and flexible classroom redesigns to schools across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The new classrooms will be awarded to innovative schools who show a commitment to fostering student engagement, creativity and success.

The grant application process opens today and all grades 6-12, community colleges, four-year colleges and universities are encouraged to apply. The grant application will close on Friday, February 10, 2017 and winners will be announced on March 24, 2017. To apply, schools can find the application on the Steelcase Education website.

Grant applicants are asked to describe their teaching goals, the pedagogy they plan to implement in the new classrooms and how an active learning environment will positively benefit both their teaching and their students. Grantees will be selected based on education strategies that align with active learning philosophies. They will also be asked to describe how they plan to measure their student's success rates and how they will share that information with the broader education community.

"Our research along with other studies has shown that space impacts behavior. Students in active learning classrooms are reaching new levels of focus and achieving in ways they weren't before," said Sean Corcorran, General Manager of Steelcase Education. "The ALC grant program is connecting schools with modern, flexible furniture that supports learning in ways – ways that outdated chairs and desks aligned neatly in rows does not."

In South Carolina, Saluda Trail Middle School teacher and previous grant recipient Dr. Julie Marshall saw her 2015-16 seventh grade students complete assignments 98 percent of the time – up from her previous year's class who had a 52 percent completion rate following the installation of her new classroom. In addition, 95 percent of these students increased their end-of-year grade, up from 81 percent who improved the previous year and more than half (62 percent) of students surpassed their Northwest Evaluation Association reading growth targets, up from 35 percent last year.

During this grant cycle, up to 15 awardees will be given one of four active learning environments featuring state-of-the-art furniture provided by Steelcase Education. Each classroom is valued at $65,000. Schools are also permitted to submit applications for library and media center spaces if their purpose is for instructor-led learning.

Last year's program received more than 800 applicants and 13 recipients were chosen from North America and Canada. All classrooms have been installed and are being used by teachers and students. More information on previous recipients and the Active Learning Classroom Grant can be found here.

Steelcase Education
steelcaseeducation.com 
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.

SOURCE Steelcase Education

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