Safe innovation platforms for lifelong learning

The UN Agenda 2030 with SDG 4 addresses the need for adequate physical infrastructure and safe, inclusive environments that nurture learning for all. Alongside with curricula and teachers, education infrastructure is one of the key inputs of how we can provide better education and high-quality learning experiences. When designing or re-designing learning processes and functional spaces, bringing all stakeholders and end-users into the process from the beginning is essential.

We at ISKU create modern, smart learning and innovation environments with pedagogy driven design. A well designed learning space allows not only a variety of learning, teaching and guidance styles, but also the specific needs of different subjects. Creative innovation platforms that emphasize the joy of learning and reinforce students’ own initiative, inspire them to find, try and co-create new solutions together.

Multifunctional canteens

Transform canteens into engaging learning spaces. By incorporating ergonomic design principles and prioritizing the well-being of students, canteens provide comfortable and inviting spaces where students can learn, eat, and socialize in a comfortable and dynamic setting.

Learning Lounges

From relaxation to productivity! Learning Lounges innovative, even playful furniture solutions encourage not only creative relaxation, but also self-directed studying, alone or in groups. When designing school lounges it is important to take into account the need for both teamwork and independent studies, adjustability, furnishing for chill-our areas and storaging options.

Staff Lounges

A staff lounge at a school or other educational institute is a designated area where the staff, including teachers, administrators, and support staff, can go during their break time or downtime to relax, work, and recharge. With a comfortable and inviting atmosphere, your staff will feel motivated and energized to perform at their best.

Adaptable Classrooms

Traditional classrooms are still in use but in a new way. Flexible furniture solutions can turn classrooms into multifunctional spaces that promote interaction between the teacher, group of students and individual students.

Solutions for STEAM Labs

STEAM Learning Labs are innovative learning spaces designed to integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) education into a single, interdisciplinary curriculum.

STEAM Learning Labs provide students with opportunities to engage in hands-on, project-based learning activities. They allow students to explore different tools and technologies and experiment with different approaches to solving real-world problems.

ISKU provides learning solutions for children to learn by doing. Check out our creative visuals on how to build space for STEAM Labs in a school.

Safe education facilities are created with safe furniture

Building and upgrading education facilities that provide safe, non-violent, inclusive, and effective learning environments for all is one of the UN SDG 4 targets. For schools, accommodating the new safety protocols brought by the pandemic requires new means for maximizing the safety of people. All ISKU products and services comply even with the strictest quality and safety requirements.

A school is a typical example of an environment where infections are easily spread. In our innovative ISKU+ concept infection control is enhanced with material selection in school furniture. Our continous research and development work has shown that antimicrobial contact surfaces have the potential to even halve the short-term sick leaves of students. Several schools, such as Kuuhankavesi School in Finland and Al-Basma British School in Abu Dhabi UAE, have chosen antimicrobial materials for their learning environments.

Award-winning learning solutions bring circular economy thinking to life

Creative furnishing solutions provide good opportunities for flexibility and altering traditional classrooms, hallways and corridors to multifunctional learning environments. Playfulness re-enhances interaction, collaboration and the joy of learning.

In our furniture solutions for learning, we combine Finnish expertise in education, technology, circular economy thinking and design. This comes to life e.g. in our GESS Education Award winners Kivikko and Nook that emphasize pedagogical and ecological sustainability.

Isku Active Learning

Active learning is a process that engages students as active participants in their learning. Focusing on how people learn, active learning develops students’ collaboration skills, their ability to learn and encourages creative thinking. Incorporating active learning methods can significantly enhance learning experiences and increase student performance.

The Isku Active Learning concept provides tools for designing novel learning and innovation environments where learning and teaching is a shared joy. Our solutions combine arhitecture and spatial hierarchy with the core components of modern learning. Isku Active Learning environments are safe, functional and enjoyable.

Stories of learning environments designed for purpose

The ISKU Active Learning Proof of Concept was created to present our way of creating smart and inspiring spaces. It gives an overview of how you can bring the best of Finnish education to learning environments with user-driven design. In this reference brochure we have collected a set of inspiring learning references, to tell the unique ISKU Active Learning stories.

Learning design elements in the times of crisis

August 31, 2020. Written by Elise Tarvainen @ Elise Tarvainen

Educators and school providers are now vigorously looking for new practices to meet all the addressed expectations shaded by Covid-19. “Marie Kondo-ing” the curriculum, building bonds and enhancing interaction is now more important than ever. Also, the learning environments need to be re-imagined to accommodate the required safety protocols in the school buildings that haven’t changed since March 2020.

Hybrid learning is a requirement of the new normal

August 17, 2020. Written by Tiina Malste.

All of a sudden last spring, mostly unwillingly and unprepared, we got caught up in the whirlpools of hybrid pedagogy, being in need to combine face-to-face instruction with online activities. Many of our pedagogical experts and students are highly competent in the face-to-face component of the hybrid but less practiced with being physically apart from each other.

Learning environment design takes students with special needs into consideration

February 7, 2022. Written by Hannes Heinilä.

Every child is special, and everyone has some individual needs that need to be considered when designing the learning process. Knowing the students and understanding of the students’ overall needs help the educators to apply appropriate support measures to help every student to thrive. Properly designed support measures have far-reaching implications for a child’s well-being and development.

ISKU involved in reforming learning environments of Peruvian schools

The state of Peru wants to develop school buildings, school networks, learning environments and teachers’ skills. The goal is to improve both learning results and comfort in public schools. The project will create an estimated 75 school buildings in different regions of Peru, mainly in Lima.