On May 5 and 6, twelve leaders in Christian education met in West Michigan to consider classroom design and the ways it can influence learning. The first day was hosted by furniture manufacturer Herman Miller, Inc., and a team from the company’s design yard. Friday was hosted by Zeeland (Michigan) Christian School, providing an opportunity for the group to observe the design and use of space for learning in the school’s new middle school addition.
The designers at Herman Miller have a vision to “empower people and place to transform education.” The goal is to create spaces that foster creativity, engagement, mobility, and connection. The company maintains that learning spaces that are flexible, collaborative, social, and promote movement will encourage a growth mindset, which is the goal of education, as well as a benefit to workplaces and society in general.
“The Herman Miller Roundtable event opened my eyes to the impact of environment and space as it relates to learning and work,” said Mark Buteyn, administrator at Central Wisconsin Christian in Waupun, Wisconsin. “Collaboration, communication, and creativity are constant focus points in the education we are encouraging. To see those elements alive and in action at the HM design center enlivens my vision for the transformational education for the students that we serve.”
CSI’s CEO Roundtables are designed to provide school leadership with applicable insights gleaned from the business world. “The value in these Roundtables goes way beyond the excellent subject matter and presentations,” said Joel Westa, president/CEO of Christian Schools International. “They also have high value from a community building standpoint. The conversations around dinner and fellowship during the events reap great rewards as we lead our schools together. It really highlights the fact that we are a family of schools and we can learn from one another.”
