The refurbishment of the St Benedict’s College Preparatory School’s media centre was met with great enthusiasm when the learners arrived back from the August school holidays.
Brendan Quinn, preparatory headmaster, said the need for more open collaborative spaces within the context of 21st-century teaching and learning has never been more appropriate than now.
He said the learners require spaces that are flexible to suit the varying methodologies used by teachers within the more modernised learning space.
“We are delighted to have this space for the use of our prep school, as it allows for far more opportunities for cooperative learning to take place.
“The learners feel somewhat enabled when they are given the freedom to choose an environment or setup that best serves their learning style, for the activity in which they are currently engaging. We believe that a comfortable, invigorating environment stimulates renewed interest and a motivational element from boy learners as they begin each learning opportunity.
“The seating has been carefully selected and positioned to assist appropriately with this,” said Quinn.
Quinn said the need for open discussion, debate and the exchanging of thoughts and ideas is relevant, and a flexible seating model helps to support such activities constantly.
He added the environment can be designed and redesigned to suit the lesson as necessary.
“We are certainly very excited to begin working in this space and trust that our learners and teachers will benefit from its introduction,” said Quinn.
Prep school librarian Debbie Saunders said the revamp of the library has brought about a more collaborative, innovative and active space, which includes many online features, such as Chromebooks and ipads.
“The learners have much more enthusiasm, they seem keener now,” said Saunders.
She said with changing technology, the learners have become teachers and teachers facilitate.
Saunders said when the learners came back to school, an opening was held and she could not believe how their faces lit up once they saw the new space.
She said the media centre will be used by learners from Grade Four to Seven.
“We are very lucky to have this new space. I am already bombarded with teachers wanting to book the centre for their learners,” said Saunders.
