Massachusetts SD Debuts Learning Studios in Three Schools

Sudbury Public Schools recently opened Learning Studios at Noyes, Loring and Nixon Elementary Schools — with a fourth one at Hayes Elementary School in the works. Learning Studios are flexible, technology-focused learning spaces and are part of the Massachusetts school district’s plan to implement innovative, research-based curriculum and educational practices.

The Learning Studios offer students collaborative, hands-on learning experiences with an emphasis on coding and computer science. Students and staff can now access more G Suite tools and other technology in the spaces.

At Loring, third grade students designed their own carnival games, while working together, thinking critically and using a new interactive panel display. Third and fourth grade students used whiteboard easels and tables to solve math problems and shared their thinking on Chromebooks. Students have also used the studio’s green screen to make informative videos.

At Noyes, students are exploring coding and solving puzzles created by their teachers to deepen their understanding of key concepts.

“With the creation of the collaborative, open and well-outfitted space, our teachers have been freed to take risks and stretch learning to a whole new level,” said Noyes Assistant Principal Kristin Moffat in a press release. “Teachers have expressed their joy at a space that is so flexible and easy to use. They are thrilled with the coding materials provided to assist with students’ technology engineering standards and are relieved to have a space that can serve so many functions for their class and their grade level.”

In addition, Sudbury Public Schools expanded professional development opportunities to include Google-specific programming and other dedicated technology workshops for teachers to support the studios.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • Photo credit - Chuck Coates

    Florida District Modernizes Central Energy Plants at Two High Schools

    Flagler Schools, a public school district in Flagler County, Fla., recently partnered with Matern Professional Engineering to modernize the central energy plants at two of its high schools, according to a news release. The project is part of a larger, district-wide effort to reduce energy costs and operational expenses.

  • Beyond Four Walls

    Operable glass walls provide a dynamic solution for educational spaces. They align with today’s evolving teaching methods and adapt to the needs of modern learners. Beyond the functional versatility, movable glass walls offer clean, contemporary aesthetics, slim and unobtrusive profiles, and versatile configurations that cater to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

  • California K–12 District Completes Elementary School Campus Replacement

    The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) in Richmond, Calif., recently announced the completion of a replacement campus for Lake Elementary School, according to a news release. The school has capacity for 470 students between Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and sixth grade.