What is future-focused learning; how educational furniture can create a future-focused classroom

Education is changing. In 2015, the NSW Department of Education made a commitment to invest $1 billion from the Rebuilding NSW Schools Fund over the next 10 years to transform schools into future-focused learning environments.  

But what exactly does future-focused mean? 

Future-focused learning is a pedagogy that aims to prepare students for the demands of the future. It empowers students to take control over their own learning by facilitating a flexible environment that allows them to collaborate, think creatively and critically and build life-long problem-solving skills. 

“To succeed in the future, our students will require research, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. They will need to be able to work independently and together with groups of other students” - NSW Department of Education 

This style of learning is driven by the student to give them the best chance at effectively transitioning into their working life. This is because the focus shifts from solely consuming knowledge to building skills that are necessary for them in the future. 

Future-focused learning ultimately teaches students how to learn by giving them the freedom and flexibility to choose a method that allows them to effectively solve problems.  

For example; with any given task, a student may find that collaborating with their peers will allow them to complete the task more effectively and as such may decide to form a small group to achieve this. Comparatively, another student may believe independently working on the task will maximise their own performance, accordingly, they will seek out an environment that allows them to work independently. We see future-focussed learning in action when a student is presented with a task and makes an executive decision on how they believe they can complete the task effectively. Whilst both students are completing the same task, they have the flexibility to self-direct how they want to achieve this goal. 

By giving students access to facilities that allow them to drive their own education, they can refine their decision-making and problem-solving skills that are a necessary to know when they transition into the workforce. 

How do you create a future-focused classroom? 

Future-focused is all about flexibility. We’ve discussed flexible classroom design many times, at Reed Furniture – a similar principle applies with future-focused learning.   

Future-focused classrooms are optimised to allow students to work both independently and in groups and accommodates for a variety of different learning styles or needs. This is achieved through a combination of classroom layout and classroom furniture. 

Classrooms of the future are divided into multiple learning spaces, commonly including learning spaces designed to allow for: 

• Peer collaboration – Allows students to work collaboratively in groups 
• Independent learning – Allows students to work independently, focus and think critically  
• Creative learning – Allows students to experiment with their learning 
• Student/teacher communication space - Allows students to ask questions and deepen their understanding of information 

So how do you build this space? It’s all in the furniture. The classroom furniture you invest in must be agile and adaptable to create and accommodate for the demands of each these learning spaces.  

Reed Furniture stock a wide range of flexible, educational furniture designed to facilitate for a future-focused classroom.  

Start building your future focused classroom with Reed Furniture – your school furniture specialists. Get in touch with our team today!