In November, we had the pleasure of attending EDspaces 2023 in Charlotte, NC. As we start the new year with anticipation and a forward-looking vision for the educational landscape of the year ahead, we’d like to highlight some exciting takeaways from the conference. From groundbreaking immersive technologies to innovative classroom furniture solutions, we were inspired by the ingenuity on display.
- Immersive Reality’s 360-degree Projector – One the coolest, most unique booths we stumbled upon at EdSpaces, was Immersive Reality. They had three walls, a floor, and a ceiling set up with the latest laser projection technology to provide a full 360-degree experience. These projectors reflected interactive games, ocean, dessert, and galaxy scenes and even day-to-day real-life (like teaching about errands and grocery shopping) displayed through the projectors. All the walls are touch sensitive so you could touch a planet in the galaxy, and it will show you all the facts you could know about it. This hands-on experience not only creates a fun way to learn about textbook “stuff”, but also routine day-to-day tasks. The grocery shopping experience provided a shopping list, and you would take your basket and walk through the store and select those items (something we could all use when we realize we got home and forgot the milk!). What a cool, modern way of learning that will surely keep our youth’s attention!
- Media Technologies’ Shelby Chair – Oddly enough, we have been looking for something that can provide this solution for one of our clients and we didn’t think it even existed until we toured through Media Technologies’ booth. Introducing the Shelby Chair which is a classic four-legged student chair that is height adjustable! What?! Yes, it does exist! Our client presented us with a unique challenge of the students being the same age, but being of different sizes as they go through growth spurts. This chair has a glide that is removable. Without the glide the chair sits at 16” and with the glide the chair sits at 18”, making this the perfect chair for that 4th-6th grade range. We love this kind of innovation and vendors who make us look good to our clients!
- Muzo’s XBrick – Indoor and outdoor use, modular seating, surface support, power stations… this product really does it all! The XBrick is a multifunctional module product that can be used in more ways than you can even imagine. As the name implies, this is a rectangular brick that is lightweight, but strong. This product was being demonstrated at Muzo’s booth as stadium seating in very playful colors which really piqued our curiosity and caught our attention. Being a lightweight product, anyone can easily carry multiple bricks to make new arrangements, but it’s also strong, allowing people to sit on them or have them support a tabletop or bench. After learning about this product, we had the opportunity to sit on them in a real-life scenario at a lecture the next day. All positive feedback for the XBrick.
- Fleetwood’s Mobile Learning Station – Fleetwood’s Mobile Learning Station is a versatile solution for individual and shared workspaces. The Single Mobile Learning Station is great for individual work, whether you are trying to study, write a paper or just take some time to yourself to relax and read a book. They include acoustic panels within the frame of the station. This obviously reduces noise when seated here, which helps focus, but it also adds a fun, colorful touch. Plus, it’s narrow enough to fit through a door! Move this station from room to room! The Two-Person Mobile Station has all the same benefits as the Single Person Station, including being able to fit through a door, but also has storage, a functional back, and optional privacy between the two people. Above the acoustic panels is an open shelf for any books, binders, or papers that need to be stored. The back can have a magnetic markerboard or a metal pegboard. Lastly, the inserted panels can rotate out from the center to create a dividing screen between the students. Keep your eye and ears open for Fleetwood, they are coming up with awesome, innovative ideas for the modern classroom and media center!
- Certwood’s Tote Trays – Certwood has industry-leading totes and TeamPAR is drinking their KoolAid! We had the opportunity to speak with a few representatives from Certwood to learn why their totes are different from everyone else. Let’s start with the different sizes offered. They have a Slim Line Tray which is about 12” W x 16” L and a Wide Line Tray measuring 18” W x 16” L, both options varying in depth. They have mobile units, wall units, traditional units, and enhancements that really take these storage units to the next level. The first component that truly makes them stand out is their patent Glide and Tilt mechanism. We’ve all experienced opening a bin and it being too heavy resulting in it falling out of the brackets or even breaking trying to support the weight! Well, the Glide and Tilt is designed to hold the bin in place so you can grab what you need without it falling out or breaking, this is a small solution that can prevent a huge headache! Speaking of breaking, these bins are shatterproof, passing and far exceeding the strongest of all international testing. Impressive, to say the least. Some other enhancements we loved were the seating pads, grid dividers, tray lids, and textured surfaces to prevent residue when removing adhesives. We are currently spec’ing them for a couple of projects and will continue to keep them in mind for all future storage needs!
The creativity and forward-thinking solutions presented are not just a testament to the visionary innovation of these industry leaders, but also a promise of more dynamic and engaging learning spaces to come. With these pioneering products and ideas, we step into the new year ready to transform educational spaces into hubs of inspiration and discovery. Stay tuned as we continue to explore and integrate these exceptional solutions into our projects, fostering an exciting era of learning and growth.
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