{"id":297510,"date":"2011-03-17T18:26:03","date_gmt":"2011-03-17T18:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.smartdesks.com\/blog\/?p=297510"},"modified":"2021-07-02T11:10:18","modified_gmt":"2021-07-02T11:10:18","slug":"collaborative-classroom-furniture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartdesks.com\/knowledge-center\/collaborative-classroom-furniture\/","title":{"rendered":"SMARTdesks Unveils New Line of Collaborative Learning Furniture"},"content":{"rendered":"

BALTIMORE, MARCH 17, 2011
\nSMARTdesks announces the launch of the Exchange\u2122 Collaboration Furniture System. SMARTdesks collaborated with progressive universities in developing learning studios for collaborative teaching methods. Various furniture shapes were proposed and refined for different course objectives using teams, text materials and a range of technology from computers and laptops, to smart phones and mobile devices, to video teleconferencing for collaboration mixed with distance learning. Each table shape introduces positive body language for collaboration teams. The SMARTdesks product development team designed a unique element that is used for making the most sought-after geometries for interaction.
\nThe Exchange Element\u2122 is a triangular table, produced in mirror image to enable configurations of hexagon, pinwheel, triangle, and linear offset for collaboration in the classroom; and delta reflex for collaborative teleconferencing. Each Element\u2122 is functionally a stand-alone workstation with enough personal work space to spread out materials, use a computer, laptop or mobile device. The Element\u2122 has a wire management system in the leg and fabric mesh modesty panel, plus USB power, AC and options for power and data ports. The Element\u2122 is typically outfitted for use with flipIT\u00ae pop-up work stations (US Patent 7,784,412), supporting most 20\u201d wide screen monitors. For use with laptops, the flipIT\u00ae Laptop Safe (US Patent 7,757,612) is specified to secure and tether institutional equipment. flipIT\u00ae products enable multi-use learning because they can bring technology to the work space, or stow it completely out of the way in an instant.
\nThe Exchange Collaboration Pinwheel\u2122 comprises six Elements\u2122 to create a flow of understanding between people. Each work station is situated with a return, like office furniture, which, with the turn of the shoulders, becomes a common conference area for two or three collaborators. There are no parallel sides to this shape, so confrontational body posturing is avoided. This table helps those who sit at it focus, individually or in groups, using a mix of text and technology. The unique shape inspires creative problem solving and underscores how important each member\u2019s contribution is to the group.
\nThe Exchange Collaboration Triangle\u2122 is made up of six Elements\u2122 in mirror image. Students naturally gather around the corners for meetings, but have enough privacy for independent focus simply by turning the body squarely with the laptop or computer workstation. The workstation locations also make it easy to share on personal laptops placed between computer monitors or at the corners. For multi-use capability, the flipIT\u00ae workstations bring 20\u201d LCDs into play as needed, and lets users flip them back into the desktop, completely out of the way when text materials take priority. flipIT\u00ae Laptop Safes may also be specified to stow laptops under lock and key, allowing instant access and connections to power and data. This shape is for \u201cjoiners,\u201d promoting freedom of flow and arrangement of people around the table for ad hoc discussions.
\nThe Exchange Collaboration Hexagon\u2122 brings six Elements\u2122 together with its internal hexagon shape out of phase with the work station edges. The internal diagonals create a visual flow that makes this distinctive from a simple hexagon with solid center. The hexagon shape divides equally the power of each seat. It does this even more effectively than King Arthur\u2019s round table because the territories are defined. Because each person is seated directly opposite to another, there is potential for confrontational body language; however, the visual cues of the Exchange Collaboration Hexagon counter the confrontational body positioning by introducing diagonals. The result is that people tend to angle their bodies to each other and tend to open themselves to those across the table. This choice is good for equal contributions to the collaboration. Each speaker is empowered as soon as they have the floor.
\nThe Exchange Linear Offset Collaboration Table\u2122 may have parallel sides, but people are not seated in a confrontational way, head-to-head. They are offset, so they are either side-by-side or at a diagonal across the table. The Linear Offset configuration may be continued in Exchange Element\u2122 sets of mirrored pairs to fill the interior space, or may be set up in a U shape with bridge sections. When work groups are teams of two or three, the Linear Offset is a great choice. If the plan is to mix lecture with collaboration activities, set the tables in rows that radiate from the instructor\u2019s position in the room. All turn to the speaker and keep their work areas for taking notes.
\nThe Exchange\u2122 Teleconference Collaboration Table is like the Collaboration Triangle with one leg replaced by a video screen. The effect is to have the tables appear to be mirror imaged across from the panel seated on camera. Just as the Collaboration Triangle permits meetings around the corners, the corners are expanded to include the entire group from both locations. Each group requires only one screen and camera to make video teleconferencing affordable and practical. Data to support meetings appear on flipIT\u00ae pop-up monitors and stow out of the way, and out of camera shot, when not needed. The effect of having the data monitor in the shot is good because when direct to look at something on the screen, people can see the other focusing their attention there, rather than looking away from the camera as if in a distracted state. The flipIT\u00ae positions the monitor below the horizon line of the camera, so faces are not obscured. The SMARTdesks\u00ae Presence Theater b7 is a perfect complement, holding screens up to 60\u201d width at variable height and rack mount equipment bays for AV storage in lockable vented cabinet with rear access doors.
\nSMARTdesks\u00ae innovates, designs and manufactures computer furniture for education, corporate and government clients world-wide. Classroom and conference room design services are available by request online, provided at no additional cost and without obligation. Receive a floor plan and proposal according to the needs of each client\u2019s purchasing protocol, including shipping, delivery and installation. Products are made in the USA using Green Manufacturing Methods. For more information visit https:\/\/www.smartdesks.com.
\nCONTACT:
\nJohn Kessell
\n(800) 770-7042 x809
\njkessell@smartdesks.com<\/a>
\nJeffrey Korber
\n(800) 440-7042 x801
\njkorber@smartdesks.com<\/a>
\n\"\"<\/a>Exchange Sales Brochure<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BALTIMORE, MARCH 17, 2011 SMARTdesks announces the launch of the Exchange\u2122 Collaboration Furniture System. SMARTdesks collaborated with progressive universities in developing learning studios for collaborative teaching methods. Various furniture shapes were proposed and refined for different course objectives using teams, text materials and a range of technology from computers and laptops, to smart phones and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[204],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-297510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-company-news"],"yoast_head":"\nSMARTdesks Unveils New Line of Collaborative Learning Furniture - Smartdesks Knowledge Center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/smartdesks.com\/knowledge-center\/collaborative-classroom-furniture\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SMARTdesks Unveils New Line of Collaborative Learning Furniture - Smartdesks Knowledge Center\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"BALTIMORE, MARCH 17, 2011 SMARTdesks announces the launch of the Exchange\u2122 Collaboration Furniture System. 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