Side by side comparisons of a classroom from 100 years ago and those of today yield results that are eerily similar. The latest brain research on learning spaces, combined with the power and promise of today’s technology, allows for classrooms that are significantly transformed into more student-centered learning environments.
This transformation can and is occurring, not only at the classroom level, but throughout schools and districts across the nation. To better prepare students for their tomorrow, learning spaces that are flexible, welcoming, comfortable, and align to the latest research will yield higher levels of engagement and productivity, thus positively impacting student achievement. From classroom learning spaces, to building makeovers, and the empowering role of educational technology, this book will help educators redesign to better meet the needs of all students.
Features and Benefits
• Teachers will learn how to design brain-friendly learning environments
• Includes practical tips for finding resources and redesigning a learning space on a budget
• Includes spotlight stories from teachers and schools that have redesigned learning spaces and improved student achievement
• Covers how to support technology integration through blended and virtual learning
About the Authors
Dr. Robert Dillon serves the students and community of the Affton School District as Director of Technology and Innovation. Prior to this position, he served as a teacher and administrator in public schools throughout the Saint Louis area. Dr. Dillon has a passion to change the educational landscape by building excellent engaging schools for all students. He looks for ways to ignite positive risk taking in teachers and students and release trapped wisdom into the system by growing networks of inspired educators. Dr. Dillon has had the opportunity to speak throughout the country at local, state, and national conferences as well as share his thoughts and ideas in a variety of publications. He is supported by his wife, Sandra and two daughters, Emily and Ellie. Dr. Dillon is also an avid runner, reader and cyclist.
Ben Gilpin is the principal at Warner Elementary in the Western School District. Warner Elementary is located in Spring Arbor, Michigan. He is a student-centered educator that is focused on collaboration, teamwork, student engagement and leadership.
Ben is all about the Whole Child; he cares deeply about all of his students and he always tries to foster caring and impactful relationships. Ben began his career teaching 5th grade. After nine years in the classroom he accepted a position as principal in the Western School District.
He has taken an active role in sharing his school's story. He understands the importance of spreading a positive message to the entire community.
Ben is viewed as an innovative leader throughout Jackson County and the State of Michigan. Ben was recently named one of the Top 100 Influential Voices of 2014 by Bam Radio. He has also presented and consulted on numerous educational topics. Most recently Ben led sessions on Twitter, Professional Blogging, Personalized Learning, and Redesigning Learning Spaces.
Ben earned his Elementary Education degree from Tri-State University, his Masters in Education from Spring Arbor University and his Educational Leadership Certificate from Eastern Michigan University.
A.J. Juliani is the Education and Technology Innovation Specialist for Upper Perkiomen School District and cofounder of the ClassroomCribs.com site. Juliani is the author of Learning By Choice and Inquiry and Innovation in the Classroom.
Erin Klein is an award winning educator, national keynote speaker, author, and mother who has been twice selected to serve on the Scholastic, Inc. Top Teaching Team based in New York. Her recent publication Amazing Grades was a collaboration with experts from 13 countries around the world. She travels the country speaking about the power of student voice, how meaningful technology integration can enhance learning experiences, and the impact classroom design has on today’s learner.
She is certified in Brain Gym, Educational Kinesiology, and has studied under consultants from The Center for Effective Learning to understand how design affects cognition and learning. Klein serves as a classroom design consultant and creative partner for the publishing company, CarsonDellosa. Some of her articles and interviews on design for education and technology tools for the classroom can be found on Smartblogs for Education, MindShift, Scholastic, Edudemic, Edutopia, EdSurge, and EdReach.
Klein served for the past three years as the state’s technology chairperson for the Michigan Reading Association and is the 2014 recipient of the MACUL PreK 12 Teacher of the Year for Michigan. In 2013, Klein was also awarded her district’s Teacher of the Year award. She currently serves on the advisory board for Remind101 in San Francisco and is an organizer for the EdCamp Detroit Annual Educational unConference. Among Klein’s accomplishments, she was also recognized as a SMART Technologies Exemplary Educator, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) 2012 Social Media Influencer, a National Association of Independent Schools Teacher of the Future, ASCD Emerging Leader, and a member of The National Writing Project. This past summer, Klein was accepted into The Teacher’s College at Columbia University to advance her studies in reading and writing workshop.
Klein has also hosted webinars for The United States Department of Education to share her perspective on Future Ready Schools. Most recently she was one of nine professionals selected to be a featured speaker on Future Ready Schools at the national Digital Learning Day in Washington D.C.
For the past two years, Klein has been invited to Washington D.C. to represent the BAM 100 Influential Voice in Education. In 2014, Klein was selected to serve on the state of Michigan’s Voice Fellowship, through America Achieves. Through this initiative, she was invited to be a part of the national Teach to Lead summits through The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the United States Department of Education where she continues to work on shaping teacher leadership across the country.
She has her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, currently teaches at the elementary level, and lives in Michigan with her family.
Industry Reviews
"As a building principal, learning spaces are of utmost importance. It is the first thing you notice when entering. This book pushes thinking and gives practical advice to any building leader who wants to transform schools from what they were in 1916 to what they should be in 2016. We need schools to work for kids and a major obstacle in many places is the space. This book will enable you to change that mindset and conversation." -- Douglas Timm, Principal "Reading this will inspire you to reconsider the design of your entire school. I'm betting within a week of reading it, you will change something that positively impacts your students and staff." -- Jon Harper, Assistant Principal "Redesigning Learning Spaces will take you beyond the standard classroom with ideas for creating spaces that sizzle with excitement and glow with beauty and grace." -- Daniel H. Pink, author "The authors of this book live up to their reputations in this quick, but incredibly impactful book on Learning Spaces. I felt inspired, and at times challenged, to make real and meaningful changes to my own classroom space. I look at my classroom differently because of this text. What other book has made you do that?" -- Jeff Charbonneau, National Teacher of the Year "If you want to improve the opportunity for learning of your students you should read Redesigning Learning Spaces. The authors convey their passion, aesthetics, and tech savvy and pepper it with experience and examples to present a flavorful and practical book sure to inspire several actionable ideas. As a son of teachers, as a parent, and as a technologist, I recommend this book for educators who want to create a better learning experience for our children. (It is concise but chock full of practical, attainable actions educators can and should take to make sure a classroom environment is conducive to learning.)" -- Gary Shapiro, President and CEO Consumer Technology Association "Redesigning Learning Spaces is an easy-to-access, thought-provoking, and persuasive argument for rethinking our learning environments. Dillon, Gilpin, Juliani, and Klein show that not only can learning spaces impact student achievement, but they can even shape and shift a school's entire culture. Innovative learning space design isn't about aesthetics; it's about transforming schools with a learner-centered focus and facilitating powerful pedagogy. Redesigning Learning Spaces is filled with ways to do exactly that without an enormous investment of time and money." -- Dave Burgess, President of Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. "Dillon, Gilpin, Juliani, and Klein have masterfully put together a go-to, all-encompassing resource reaching everyone in education from the classroom level to the district level. Each author offers a unique perspective on how to intentionally start the redesign process so students can maximize their learning potential. Readers will walk away with practical ideas they can implement tomorrow along with a vision for strategic planning as they move forward in their process." -- Todd Whitaker, educator, writer of over 30 top selling books, motivational speaker, educational consultant, professor, and leading presenter in the field of education "Successfully educating a child is no longer simply a product of high quality curriculum and teaching alone. The learning space in which children learn can impact their education in profound and meaningful ways. Redesigning Learning Spaces provides a road map for educators to create and maintain high quality and and high impact learning spaces for children." -- Josh Stumpenhorst, Author "All educators should read Redesigning Learning Spaces to begin thinking about how to construct an environment that creates energy, promotes positive school culture, and purposeful student learning. This book offers essential tools and serves as a fantastic guide to learning space redesign. With a few intentional changes, a dramatic impact can occur within your setting." -- Dan Butler, Principal "As of now there are about 20 books in the Corwin Connected Educator Series, a seemingly ever-growing set of titles masterminded by Peter DeWitt and Corwin Press. Each book is short enough to be read in one sitting, which makes the collection ideal for book studies and professional development, both during the summer and throughout the school year. Also, each paperback is authored by one or two educators who speak (and blog, tweet, etc.) with a credible voice in the world of connected education. Some of the topics include: Flipped leadership Tools for connecting educators, parents, and communities Blogging for educators Best practices for establishing a makerspace Tools to connect and empower teachers Finally, all of the authors are active on social media, and they regularly present at local conferences, which helps in bringing to life the contents of these books." -- Ross Cooper, Supervisor of Instructional Practice K-12
