Esports: Creating Spaces That Turn Gaming Fun into Learning
The meteoric rise in high school esports shows it’s much more than child’s play. Esports has blossomed into a hot topic of conversation for its legit learning, spanning from K–12 to higher ed.
Reconfigure and Retrofit: Creating Safer Post-COVID Classrooms
Some teachers remain reluctant to take learning outside. They worry students will lose focus. But as researcher Ming Kuo said, “You can add as much instructional time as you want and keep pouring, but once that cup is full, it’s full. You have to find ways to give kids more capacity to take [information] in.” Being in nature seems to increase that capacity.
Employee Spotlight–Meet Elizabeth Leonard
Welcome to Employee Spotlight. We are happy to focus on an employee that is making a positive impact on Smith System and all of her colleagues. You have probably met Elizabeth as she makes her rounds each morning taking temperatures and making sure we are being safe during COVID-19. Discover Elizabeth's favorite thing about working at Smith System and also her favorite part of the day.
Outside Classrooms: Even Small Doses Can Help Counter Nature-Deficit Disorder
Some teachers remain reluctant to take learning outside. They worry students will lose focus. But as researcher Ming Kuo said, “You can add as much instructional time as you want and keep pouring, but once that cup is full, it’s full. You have to find ways to give kids more capacity to take [information] in.” Being in nature seems to increase that capacity.
Virtual Reality in the Classroom
Imagine a student so viscerally immersed in learning that it’s dizzying. Literally. That’s the power of using virtual reality in the classroom, and it’s capturing the attention of K–12 educators.
Employee Spotlight–Meet Jesus Anorve-Garcia
Have you ever wondered who works on and fixes the machinery at Smith System? Well, meet Jesus. He has been working at Smith System for the past eight years. Lately, Jesus has been assembling and moving our production lines from Plano to the new facility. He is one of the only people who knows how all of the machinery at Smith System works.
Future-Proof Furniture Fills New K–8 Leadership Academy
If modern K–12 education design had a mascot, it’d be a chameleon. Just like those color-morphing lizards, learning spaces and furniture must functionally adapt over their live span for every grade level and possible pedagogy. It’s called future-proofing.
Groove® Brings Great Design + Ergonomics to Any Learning Space
Just like its counterculture-vibe name, Smith’s new K-12 Groove chair questions the norm: Why can’t every school have the best learning environment without paying top dollar, especially when it comes to chairs? Groove makes it possible, says Dorsey Cox, the award-winning designer behind Groove and the founder of Alabama-based Dorsey Cox Design.
Smith System Studio: 3d Printable Barrier Screen Stands
Beginning today, anyone can download our free design file to create a basic 3D plastic stand for making classroom screens. Aer printing the stand, students simply slide any type of firm material into the slots, like plywood, cardboard from collapsed boxes or foam board, to create an upright barrier.
QuickShip Program Updates
You can be sure that as we continue to serve you, we’re taking every precaution to keep our employees safe. We’ve painted social distancing cues on our shop floors, provided PPE and, among other things, we are performing temperature checks.
Coronavirus Response
We are in this together. Smith System is open and operating as an essential business supporting North America's schools.
New Classroom Furniture Helps STEM Students Soar. Literally.
When sixth-grade teacher Gina Baragone applied for a district grant for new classroom furniture, she didn’t expected two things. First, to receive the award and, second, the impact it would have on her STEM classroom students. The furniture has helped them fly.