Creative Environments for Team and Collaborative Learning

01//28//2010 //Steve Pryor

collaborative desks for learning

As history would demonstrate, the Paragon guys were educated while sitting at the back of the classroom.  Since we spent so many years looking at the rows of furniture between us and our teachers, it was destiny that we would end up making educational furniture as adults.

The days of fixed rows of combo desks will hopefully be a scene of the past.  Learning time is valuable and the need to engage students and offer educators flexibility with classroom management is key.  That is why Paragon believes that the solution is INTUitIVE.

LEARN-IT, COLLABORATE-IT and TEAM-IT desks  can be used to develop creative learning environments for students and teachers alike.  Students of all ages and sizes can connect to the lesson plan in more ergonomic postures when used with the right seating.  Thanks to the innovative shapes of COLLABORATE-IT and TEAM-IT, students can be placed together in groups of two or more to share and encourage each other during the learning process.

A classroom that sits in rows for testing can easily be rearranged to adapt the environment and get ALL students involved in the learning process. No longer will a student get lost in the back of the class.

As I like to say, your SAT score can be affected by where you SAT.  Classroom management will no longer be limited by the furniture and educators will be able to focus on the job of investing their time into the next great generation.

Now imagine, if the Paragon guys had INTUitIVE furniture when they were in school?  You would be buying furniture from a doctor, a lawyer and…. hmmm…. a very well educated PhD rock star. 

Paragon and Green Certification

01//28//2010 //Steve Pryor

Paragon's eco friendly school furniture meets MAS certified green standards.

Everyone wants to be green….but what does this mean when it comes to furniture?  At Paragon, we are accountable to an independent third-party to ensure that we are certified for low-VOC emissions.  VOCs are Volatile Organic Compounds.  Simply put, the lower the emissions of VOCs , the better the indoor air quality.  Improved indoor air quality leads to better and healthier environments for learning and working.

Paragon partnered with Material Analytical Sciences, the creators of the MAS Green Certification, because of their dedication to test using standardized scientific methods (ASTM, ANSI and CEN).  You would be surprised to find out that some green certifications are based on their own self-created standards.

So, do you want to put on your lab coat and black rimmed glasses with white tape on the nose bridge?  It isn’t as fun as making a volcano with baking soda for the science fair but science is important when it comes to truly being green.  Green is often unseen and as a manufacturer trying to be accountable to you, we know when it makes sense to call the experts.

You can know with confidence that Paragon’s furniture can be used for your projects that require LEED for Schools.  We also meet the stringent CHPS EQ 2.3.5 credit.

Feel free to contact us to find out more information about our green initiatives have affected all areas of our production.  As a US manufacturer, we are well aware of need to lead in the area of environmental stewardship.

Oh… and make sure you wear safety glasses if you decide to go Vesuvius with the baking soda.