French students Jade Davidson (closest to the camera on the left), Taylor Meek (seated next to Davidson) and Hannah LaMaine use their computers to edit each other’s PowerPoint presentations in one of the collaboration areas of the media center in Wawasee High School. Note the large interactive board they can access with their computers.

SYRACUSE — A group of French students were working together and editing each other’s PowerPoint presentations. But rather than this taking place in the French classroom, instead the media center was used.

Collaborative efforts while using technology is becoming more common at Wawasee High School and it is occurring more often in the newly renovated media center. Renovating the media center was one of several high school construction projects beginning in the summer of 2016. Some decorating remains, but most of the work was finished prior to Christmas break.

Those who have not been inside the media center recently will likely be surprised at how much things have changed. “The whole area was renovated,” said Gena Fowble, librarian. “It was all open but they put a new wall in,” creating two new teacher supervised rooms where teachers can direct students by using a large interactive monitor or also make presentations.

One room is known as a “think tank” with furniture and a large interactive board the teacher can use. The second room is the “hub” with tables and each table has access to an interactive screen. Students can use their electronic devices and also bring up the information on the interactive screen.

The technology available in the media center provides opportunities not available in some classrooms and also the environment is more comfortable and relaxed, Fowble noted.

There are also two charging stations that can be used by students to charge their computers while still doing school work on them. One can be used by 24 students and the other by four for a total of 28 charging stations. And there are other areas in the media center where small classes can use interactive boards.

All of this together creates a fresh, brighter look for the media center, but there is more than just the cosmetic aspect involved. Encouraging collaboration among students was a key element when the renovation was designed.

“Project based learning involves a lot of collaboration,” said Kim Nguyen, WHS principal. “People would be surprised by how much just moving locations makes it (learning) more productive. We are also promoting critical thinking and problem solving skills.”

Chairs are moved into a circle and students sit and talk in a more relaxed environment. “The traditional classroom is disappearing,” Nguyen said. “We are using more tables and students are not just sitting at a single desk and listening to a lecture and taking notes.”

Today’s generation of students learn differently and Nguyen noted some students like to stand and not sit while learning. Students need to get out of their chairs and move around for a while and do some type of an activity, he added. “It makes learning more engaging and more like the real world with critical thinking and problem solving involved,” he said.

This approach is fairly new for Wawasee, but in reality it has been used for a few years already outside the walls of schools. “We like to think we are doing things here in a new way, but we are really light years behind what has been going on in the real world for a few years already,” he said, noting many businesses and companies have created a comfortable, home like feel that is apparent when walking in the door.

In addition, there is also a tech center area inside the media center where student interns will eventually repair the computers used by their peers.