On a bright morning in a small town, as children play and teachers prepare their lessons, school administrators face the solemn task of ensuring...
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Kevin Bienkowski
Kevin Bienkowski's Recent Articles
Environmentally Preferred Purchasing: A New Strategy to Help K-12 Schools Go Green
Environmentally Preferred Purchasing (EPP) is a strategy that can significantly propel educational institutions towards sustainability. This...
Shielding Our Schools: A Step-by-Step Guide to Improving Cyber Security in K-12 Education
Procurement decisions in educational institutions are critical and can have serious implications for cybersecurity. A notable example involves a...
The K-12 Classroom and Executive Function: Designing for Success
A well-designed classroom can do more than just support learning; it can actively boost cognitive processes, including executive functions. Executive functions are vital cognitive skills necessary for planning, focusing attention, remembering instructions, and juggling multiple tasks effectively. Understanding how classroom design affects these functions and using strategies to improve them can lead to more effective teaching and learning outcomes.
K-12 School Design That Prioritizes Wellness: How Can We Better Support the Mental and Physical Health of Our Students?
The Harvard School of Public Health emphasizes the critical role that school building design plays in supporting the physical and mental well-being of both students and teachers. An environment that fosters wellness not only enhances learning but also nurtures positive interactions among students, teachers, and peers.
Prioritizing Outdoor Learning: Challenges and Success Stories
By integrating outdoor learning and natural play spaces into the curriculum, schools can foster not just academic excellence but also crucial life skills and environmental stewardship among students. The evidence supports a growing consensus that outdoor learning is not just beneficial but essential for the holistic development of children, encouraging schools to prioritize these initiatives for their long-term positive impact on student outcomes.
Inclusion by Design: 6 Ways to Create Project Based Learning Spaces for Neurodiverse Students
As the educational landscape continues to evolve, the importance of designing inclusive learning spaces that cater to the needs of neurodiverse students has become front of center for many districts. PBL is a collaborative approach to education that can be effective for students of varied ages and abilities.
A Foolproof Guide to Smart Tools in Schools
When selected and used wisely, smart tools in K-12 classrooms can lead to a significant return on investment (ROI). A teacher’s toolbox used to...
Embracing AI: Six Predictions for the Future on Using ChatGPT in Strategic Procurement
As the landscape of procurement continues to evolve, the potential for improved efficiency, improved supplier relationships, and strategic decision-making is immense. As school administrators embrace these advancements, and by strategically joining ChatGPT’s capabilities with human expertise, educational institutions can streamline the complexities of procurement with greater efficiency and success, paving the way for a future where AI and human resourcefulness work hand in hand for operational excellence.
What Do Teachers Need? How to Design Schools with Educators in Mind
The role of classroom design has emerged as a pivotal factor in improving teacher satisfaction and effectiveness. The insights from Corgan’s “Design Lessons from Teachers 2.0” report provide a comprehensive understanding of what educators look for in their work environments.
This EDspaces article delves into the key findings of this report and contextualizes them with additional research to offer a full view of the current state and future of school design.










