EJ Lajeunesse unveils the $10,000 classroom of the future
Classroom makeover introduced cellphone charging stations, potted plants and cushy seating areas
High school students at EJ Lajeunesse unveiled their classroom of the future Thursday, complete with cellphone charging stations, potted plants and cushy seating areas.
The school was selected last December from among 2,500 schools in Ontario and Quebec to win the $10,000 classroom makeover from provincial public broadcaster TFO, the French-language equivalent of TVO.
"This classroom demonstrates where we hope to go in the 21st century," said teacher Mélanie Moir. "We want to rethink the way we teach, rethink the way students learn and I think this is a good first step."
The school has been using the classroom for more than a month now and already teachers are seeing students feeling much more relaxed. Moir has noticed how students are more engaged during class discussions.
"I'm very lucky to work here, to get the opportunity to explore how we can use this classroom," she said.
The classroom is full of vibrant colours and has iPads available to all students. Several tables are on wheels, which allow the students and teachers to rearrange the classroom quickly to better suit the project of the day.
"It's more dynamic. Coming to class doesn't feel as boring," he said. "If we want to critique each other, we can go in a group, we can work and collaborate."
The classroom has become the envy of the school, explained principal Tom Couvillion.
"What a different atmosphere," he told CBC News. "It's just that whole aspect of openness, the ability to share information."