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7
 We at Vanerum carry this philosophy in our heart. And
rightly so, as the continuing innovations within education
show. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are
following the international trend towards more ICT in the
classroom, with the objective of teaching children to work
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I
remember. Involve me and I learn.”
(Benjamin Franklin)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
more independently and consequently a shift from 'transfer
of knowledge' to 'exchange of knowledge' But this tale
involves much more than just ICT: teaching children
Introduction 3
social and other basic skills remains important. The
The new classroom ... Is here already! 4
changing society and new technologies also have an
intervening effect on education: from the conventional Personal findings from practice 6
authoritarian teacher at the front of the class to the coach Nature as teacher 8
who inspires interactively, tutor and counsellor. Vanerum
The end of school furniture in sight 10
has all tools on offer, which can help you to realise these
The SMART classroom 12
expectations, and the necessary expertise to advise you in
word and deed. Nursery school in action 14

SCHOOLSCHRIFT, 1-2007 3
 THE NEW CLASSROOM
ALREADY !

Information and Communication Technology in

our society increases the speed and the range
at which knowledge is spread. The individual
reflects himself less and less in traditions as a
result, but marks a life out for himself.

4 SCHOOLSCHRIFT, 1-2007
IS HERE
The rapid advance of the latest new
generations brings with it new forms of Toon De Muynck
Ergonomic therapist, De Balderschool • Berlaar
education, which require new teaching Groenlaar • Reet-Rumst

materials, new teaching methods and new “Daily use and working with the furniture in the class make me think

teaching environments. we can say the design is successful.

The conventional passive
forms of learning are giving
way, to make room for stu-
dent participation, active in-
volvement, interactive tea-
ching and teaching materials,
… A real, meaningful deve-
lopment, or just the ump-
teenth hype of the times?
Only time will tell…
Yet recent research shows
quite clearly that, despite
their apparent ease of manner
and less hierarchical struc-
ture, these new forms of edu-
cation produce good results.
Students gain more indepen-
dence and more responsibility
in this structure, which they
seem to be able to assume
successfully with the right
accompaniment and in the
right circumstances. They get
to work, for example, indivi-
dually and in groups, to con-
centrate and, providing there
is sufficient variety to moti-
vate and creatively stimulate
themselves and each other,
with results as a consequence
that equal or surpass those of
comparable groups. The role
of the teacher-coach in this
process is extremely impor-
tant at all times, as is the wor-
Optimal and maximum attention has been paid to ergonomically and
functionally very important aspects both for the student and the
teacher/lecturer…
In other words it is a win-win situation for both parties. They are, in a
manner of speaking, literally and figuratively raised to a higher level.
The Optimax is worth more than double its name”.
king environment. The Opti- ways at the front, but stands
max series developed from much more frequently cen-
this philosophy is an extre- trally in the class, where he
mely important aid in the operates more as the accom-
change from a 'class locale' to panist to knowledge exchange
an 'interactive teaching envi- than as the autocratic trans-
ronment' which relaxes and mitter of knowledge. The
stimulates at the same time, integration of Optimax into a
and offers opportunities for class situation achieves seve-
both individual and group ral objectives at a stroke:
work. In this working method students still have an indivi-
the teacher is no longer al- dual place to sit, but it is

Sitting higher up is cool! We can also

stand up and we can see the teacher
and the board much better! The
teacher also gives better lessons
since we got the new furniture: and
she lets us work by ourselves more
often in groups. That's great!

SCHOOLSCHRIFT, 1-2007 5
 'different': the height and the teacher-coach is literally
design of the desk-chair at the same height as the
combination make it possible students, which leads to more
to work either sitting or eye contact, therefore greater
standing in conventional, attention and more
individual and group work involvement.
without disturbing the flow of
the lesson. The teacher enjoys
greater comfort: because the
desktop is higher he no
longer has bend to follow or
support the work of the
students. The higher position
also increases the feeling of
equality in these situations:

PERSONAL FINDINGS
From practice

Didier De Deken
teacher, ’t vestje • Lier

As a teacher in primary school you literally go
through life bent over. The student's benches were
developed in accordance with economic principles.
They sit, nicely straight…about one metre lower than
your shoulders. There is little suggestion of eye
contact, unless you walk among the desks constantly
bent over. To change your class configuration as if by
magic is akin to the chaos of moving house. Letting
the students try out an alternative way of working is
impossible…
Till you have the chance to equip your classroom
with Optimax furniture. Immediately you see that
student participation is much greater, that their
excitement in the task increases considerably and
that your back at last enjoys satisfaction. Whether
you now sit at the front of the class (at your own
Optimax desk) or walk through the classroom, you
are always literally at the same level as the students.
Eye contact, and in the long term the involvement of
the students, is self-evident. In a minimum of time
thanks to the handy wheels your class configuration
changes from individual work to group work or
working in pairs.
Thanks to the possibility of allowing the students to
work alternately sitting or standing, their ability to
concentrate is drastically increased. For admit it,
who sits in the same position for two solid hours of a
lesson? Moreover, it can be clearly seen that the
students, at the higher Optimax desks, adopt a much
more natural sitting position after easily adjusting the
footrests on the chairs or on the desks themselves.
Even the keenest students in the class now remain
“stock still” continuing to work without the
temptation of rocking their seats…

6 SCHOOLSCHRIFT, 1-2007
WONDERFUL

Look at the eye-catching shapes, the use of colour and choice of materials, the fine machining technique,
the creative, slightly non-conformist vision, the eye for detail, the possible applications, the quality of the
assemblage…
No doubt about it, this is a real Vanerum!

Vanerum furniture: ergonomic, practical, beautiful.

VANERUM Kleine Schaluinweg 7 3290 Diest Tel: 070-222.600 Fax: 070-222.601 info@vanerum.com
Vanerum Nederland BV Duwboot 89 Postbus 494 3990 GG HOUTEN Tel : 030-21.22.010 Fax : 030-21.22.011 NEDERLAND info@vanerum.nl
Vanerum Objekteinrichtungs GmbH Harpener Heide 7b 44805 BOCHUM Tel : 0234-70.70.43 Fax : 0234-70.71.07 DEUTSCHLAND verwaltung@vanerum.de
 NATURE AS
At a time when a new awareness of
environment and climate is developing, design
also reflects this trend: Nature is quite often
the source of inspiration for decoration, but
also for the form of objects for use and
What can SMART mean for you?
design. Some designers try to show the beauty
Does the use of ICT frighten you off?
SMART Boards are very easy and intuitive to use, and so it
of it by picturing it as accurately as possible.
should be! Thanks to the extensive help resources simple in Others prefer to show the impression that
this case does not mean the same as limited.
Moreover, research shows that SMART interactive boards Nature has made on them.
ensure greater attention and motivation in the student, so
that the teaching material is more quickly assimilated.
The teacher enjoys students who cooperate better, simple
lesson preparations and extensive teaching materials: the
online lesson and object database is available free! The reflection of Nature as a substitute for
going out into the natural world is not an end
More information:
Nijverheidslaan 60 • BE 8540 Deerlijk •
Tél: +32 56 31 34 15 • Fax: +32 56 31 36 88 • info@vsvint.be
in itself however: a new creativity arises from
Duwboot 91 • Postbus 494 • NL 3990 GG Houten •
Tél: +31 30 63 79 387 • Fax: +31 30 25 47 927• info@vsvint.nl
consciously dealing with Nature and ecology,
www.vsvint.com
which seeks solutions to arriving at a new
way of product development, design and

At the boundary between

design and handicraft, Tord
Boontje, the Netherlands-born
product designer working in
London actively combines
advanced technologies with
the techniques of the
SCHOOL FURNITURE craftsman to create exquisite
Learn more, see more? glasswork, lighting and
furniture.
Feel free to ask at +31(30)-63.42.333 or +32(70)22.26.00 www.tordboontje.com
go to visite www.vanerum.com
or visit our showroom in Houten or Diest
TEACHER

ecologically responsible production

methods. Only when we learn to handle
our raw materials respectfully will we get
new opportunities to improve our future.

Even Vanerum gets inspired by Nature. If you have come to take a

look at our NOT-stand, you will know what we mean.
www.vanerum.nl

Algae are interior building A modern, somewhat

blocks and decorative abstract version of a
elements at the same time. centuries-old yachting
The plastic components that trophy. The light-footedness
are reminiscent of plants are of the triplex execution
to be connected to each stands in sharp contrast to
other into tissue-like the dramatic untying of the
structures from light yacht that precedes the real
curtains to impenetrably trophies.
dense room dividers. www.vlaemsch.be
www.vitra.com
Wood. More wood. Nails.
More nails. A chaotic
structure. A shape begins to
grow. Is it a tail? A bone or
leg? It is a futuristic beast.
It grows and mutates. It
lives! Fully grown! Burn it!
Burn it to ashes! From the
ashes arises Uchronia.
www.uchronians.org

The tropical rain forest is

the inspiration for this
collection of natural Who does not want a horse
products. The colours are to light up his house…?
more “Zen” and breathe the Love at first sight or eternal
calmness and purity of this hate guaranteed.
earthly paradise. www.moooi.nl
www.arte-international.com

SCHOOLSCHRIFT, 1-2007 9

New generations bring new
insights. New insights
generate new concepts. Even
in education these new school
designs grow out in a
controlled way from a
deserving idea to a fully
10 SCHOOLSCHRIFT, 1-2007
valued alternative to the
existing organisations.
Students increasingly have the
opportunity to choose for
themselves which teaching
form best suits their talents,
and get more independence at
an ever earlier stage.
Moreover, the new media and
technologies make knowledge
accessible in a completely
different way than was
possible for preceding
generations.
THE E
SCHO
The reflection of the
appropriate classroom comes
together with new concepts of
education in general and
filling the various teaching
times in particular The
ongoing individualisation in
which the teaching schedule
connects as far as possible to
the student's own interests
and initiative and which
research abilities, involve-
ment in group work and a
sense of responsibility are
stimulated requires not only
adapted teaching methods, but
END OF
OOL FURNITURE IN SIGHT
also appropriate study
environments with equip-
ment that is not just adapted
to spontaneous interactions,
informal work groups etc.,
but also to the conventional
head-on intermezzo, which
is still needed occasionally.
Vanerum dares to look
into the future and to
anticipate with furniture that
lends eminence to this:
comfortable, multiuse,
movable, easy-maintenance,
easy to adapt individually
and, above all, fully ready for
integration with the most
modern technology.
Vanerum's mission is
complete when we can
contribute to our children
being able to experience the
duty of going to school as the
right to learn.
Hans van der Heijden
Rector - Beatrix college Tilburg
The rapid advance of the latest new generations brings with it new forms of
education, which require new teaching materials, new teaching methods and
new teaching environments. The conventional passive forms of learning are
giving way to make room for student participation, active involvement,
interactive teaching and teaching materials,…
Students gain more independence and more responsibility in this structure,
which they seem to be able to assume successfully with the right
accompaniment and in the right circumstances.
SCHOOLSCHRIFT, 1-2007 11
 THE SMART CLASSROOM !

In our class we have no boring

books but a computer board that
we can write and search on
ourselves. That makes learning
really cool!

12 SCHOOLSCHRIFT, 1-2007
One of the most
important parts of a
modern and up-to-
date classroom is a
projection system
with PC, preferably
supplemented by a
SMART Board
Interactive
Whiteboard.
This complete system not
only allows all the data and
multimedia that can be
displayed on a PC and a
projector to be reproduced,
but also to process them,
move them and put notes on
them,… The powerful
Notebook software supplied
with every SMART Board is
completely intuitive in use
and makes a very low-
threshold product of the
SMART Board Interactive
Whiteboard, which you will
no longer be able to imagine
your classroom without.
The eye-catching interactive
display produces more
attention from the students
and the opportunity to
stimulate them audio-visually
at any time ensures greater
motivation and better results.
In this way the return on your
lessons increases. Moreover
you easily adapt your lesson
preparations during the
lesson, which produces a
significant time-saving and
guarantees that the
information is always up to
date and suited to your target
group.
The software is not only
Our education system has been targeted at language-
oriented students for decades. The majority of teaching
material is supplied verbally (The teacher talks, the
students listen).
Students who are language-oriented, score better than
students who are image-oriented.
With the SMART Board, the learning process can be
supported visually: we are going to see, experience and
do things. The imaging ability of children is being
increasingly addressed, as a result of which they
understand quicker, use more creativity and develop
vision.
It is important that all pupils accumulate knowledge!
Using the SMART Board among other things leans
more heavily on the “new, learning by picturing” and
supplied with every SMART
Board sold, every registered
SMART Board user can also
download it. In this way
lessons can be easily prepared
on your own PC. The
extensive database of online
lessons and the ability to
download a whole library of
teaching sources and add to
them with your own material
make the whole complete.
Herman Vermeiren
Primary School De Minnestraal • Lebbeke
we make the knowledge economy accessible to
everyone.
In this way teaching material is never boring! It
challenges students to think more, it provides a
start to new developments and ways of thinking.
The lesson should reach more students.
With a SMART Board in the class you can learn
faster, more enjoyably and more effectively. Many
children with few opportunities can profit from this
new technology so that they, too, can take their
place in the knowledge society.
In the senior section (4th to 6th year) of our
primary school, every class has its own SMART
Board. In the meantime, the teaching staff can no
longer imagine their daily life without it.
SO SIMPLE
Thanks to the well-thought Notebook
Software, putting lessons together is
very easy.
The ability to refer to the most diverse
sources and materials in the lesson and
to add to the lesson 'under way' makes
this application very time-efficient.
Moreover, at www.smartopschool.nl you
will find ready-made Notebook lessons
that were prepared by your colleagues
and can be downloaded free.
SCHOOLSCHRIFT, 1-2007 13
 NURSERY SCHOOL
IN ACTION

At a time when testing and measuring

is high on the agenda, we have a
tendency also to measure toddlers and
infants by certain yardsticks. Infants
rather specify their development
themselves, if they are given enough
space to learn for themselves by
playing.

14 SCHOOLSCHRIFT, 1-2007
The nursery school is pre-eminently a place
where a lot of attention goes towards
individual children and their development,
and where different children are at different
stages of physical and mental development.

An adapted environment is according to the same colour

required to stimulate both
facets optimally. The 'Sloetje'
developed by Vanerum is
really to the infants' taste and
is intended as a seating
solution that teaches them
consciously to deal with the
length of their bodies. The
infant decides for itself how
tall it is and what for them is
the most ergonomic seating
height (the teacher can follow
this up using a colour code),
whereby the desk that fits can
be set to the ideal height
code. This easily movable
solution is extremely
convenient for the dynamic
environment of an infants'
class, where individual work
is alternated with interactive
work in groups that are
constantly changing in size. A coloured cuddly snake is supplied
The storage space in the as an aid to the teacher in
'Sloetje' makes it extra determining the exact height of the
attractive to stuff in personal seat. The colour that the infant can
things like a cuddle, toys,… reach is the colour on which it sits
which makes it into your own most ergonomically. The height is
little space. easy to change by rotating the
'Sloetje' around its longitudinal axis.
The suitable desks are adjusted in
the same way.

SCHOOLSCHRIFT, 1-2007 15
 Vanerum België NV Vanerum Nederland BV
Kleine Schaluinweg 7 Duwboot 89
3290 DIEST Postbus 494
Tel : 070/ 222.600 3990 GG HOUTEN
Fax : 070/ 222.601 Tel : 030/21.22.010
BELGIË Fax : 030/21.22.011
info@vanerum.be NEDERLAND
info@vanerum.nl

Elbe-Vanerum Vanerum
Rue de l’Artisanat 7A Objekteinrichtungs GmbH
Zone industrielle Harpener Heide 7b
1400 NIVELLES 44805 BOCHUM
Tel : 070/ 222.600 Tel : 0234/ 70.70.43
Fax : 070/ 222.601 Fax : 0234/ 70.71.07
BELGIQUE DEUTSCHLAND
info@vanerum.be verwaltung@vanerum.de

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Masthead
Published by: Vanerum International V.U. Gert Van Erum
The people who worked on this issue:
Carmen Buntinx (layout)
Ben Jochems (Editor)
Rudi Reynders (Editor-in-chief)
Gert Van Erum (Publisher responsible)

16 SCHOOLSCHRIFT, 1-2007