Grant Funds Renovation of Education Classroom

A $150,000 grant from the George I. Alden Trust will support the renovation of a classroom in the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education into an innovative, active learning space.

Classroom renovations are a major component of St. John Fisher University’s iFisher: Next Generation Learning Initiative, an effort to equip both students and employees with the technology, tools, and learning spaces of the future. To date, the University has enhanced nine classrooms.

The School of Education classroom will feature Apple televisions connected to projection at each table and to larger screens for easy sharing from any device, and tabletops will double as white boards, supporting dynamic conversations as they happen. The space will allow anyone in the room to become the presenter, equally sharing the role of content expert or discussion leader to create a true community of learning.

Facilities updates, including basic upgrades to these standard classroom spaces such as new carpet, paint, additional outlets for device charging at each work station, and electrical work to upgrade lighting to LED with zone switching and dimming will also be completed.

“The classroom will change the way that faculty and students are teaching and learning and will drive innovation in teaching pedagogy,” said Dr. Joellen Maples, dean of the School of Education. “These spaces allow for dynamic team projects where students can freely engage with both analog and digital tools, creating an environment optimized for active collaboration.”

The classroom will be used by undergraduate students across disciplines throughout the week, and on the weekends, students in the School’s Education Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Executive Leadership program will also benefit from the redesigned space.