McWaters Hosts Flip Your Classroom Contest

January 13, 2015

COLUMBIA, SC – Today’s classrooms are hubs of activity that require dedicated support for the latest modern teaching methods; however, most classrooms in use today were designed for traditional row-by-column layouts that only support the instructor to stand-and -deliver and the students to sit-and-listen. Recognizing the opportunity to share the latest research and tools for creating active learning environments, McWaters, a full service Steelcase contract dealership in Columbia, SC, set out to provide those resources by promoting a contest developed for middle and high schools in Richland School District Two.

The “Flip Your Classroom Contest” challenged students and educators to submit digital entries that creatively portrayed why their existing learning environment was inefficient and what it would take to make-over the space to support active learning. Seventeen middle and high school classes from Richland School District Two participated.

The panel of judges included: Lisa Raney – Steelcase Southeast Regional Education Leader; Lauren Liles – Senior Project Manager at EngenuitySC; Mary Beth Branham – VP, Principal at LS3P and Sarah Ford – VP, Business Development Relationship Manager at First Citizens Bank. The judges were thoroughly impressed with all the entries, but Wendi Wimmer’s Drama Class at Ridge View High School’s creative adaptation of the popular pop song “Whip It” – transformed into “Flip It” – captured their hearts and first place.

Lisa Raney stated, “At Steelcase Education our mission is to help schools create effective, inspiring and active learning spaces. As a judge, it was fun and fulfilling to view all of the video submissions for the Flip Your Classroom competition from across the district. The message and creativity of Ridge View High School’s video was a true winner.”

McWaters partnered with Steelcase, Designtex and Milliken to bring the student inspired design to life. The end result is a space that supports active learning, provides flexibility to respond to different modes of teaching and reflects the creative spirit of the students and instructor. “We needed a change and I’m so thankful we came up with the idea. I’m thankful for McWaters and the flip it contest because this is wonderful, this is amazing. Everybody needs to see this. This is cool, I’m so happy.” said student Deon Turner.

 

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The new classroom was revealed on January 8, 2015 and student and instructor feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

McWaters would like to give special thanks to Martha Jones – Director of Strategic Partnerships at RSD2, Brenda Mack-Foxworth – Principal of Ridge View High School and Jack Carter Executive Director of Operations for RIchland School District Two for their incredible support for the contest.

Through this contest, McWaters is proud to demonstrate that public schools and private businesses can successfully partner for the benefit of the students and teachers.

“We realize that the need of today’s learning environments are evolving. McWaters along with our partners Steelcase, Designtex and Milliken are thrilled for the opportunity to share knowledge and provide tools needed to create a space for Ridge View High School that will have a positive impact on teaching and learning and help support the great learning environment that they have already established,” states William Gresham, owner of McWaters.