New studio showcases the classroom of the future, redefines teaching and learning
LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Virtual launched its Innovation Design Studio today: a distinctive facility in Michigan designed to help educators, administrators, and policymakers experience the future of learning firsthand. The studio was unveiled during an open house and roundtable discussion with media, featuring Michigan Virtual’s AI Lab and flexible learning experts. Michigan Virtual plans to use the Innovation Design Studio to offer educators a unique space in which to explore how their classrooms can evolve and redesign in real time to meet student learning needs.
“Our top priority at Michigan Virtual is to innovate and remain five steps ahead as education technology and the needs of students and educators continue to evolve,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, president and CEO of Michigan Virtual. “Building this Innovation Design Studio in our headquarters is our way of investing in Michigan educators, giving them a hands-on opportunity to explore emerging tools and learning environments they can thoughtfully bring back to their own classrooms.”
While the traditional K-12 classroom still meets certain needs in education, the ability to adapt and restructure to create flexible learning environments gives educators the opportunity to meet students where they are and to maximize how they deliver support. For example, the Innovation Design Studio allows educators to experiment with different furniture configurations and capabilities, such as having students stand or sit at adjustable table heights to enhance collaboration and encourage mobility. It also provides access to cutting-edge digital technology to capture real-time peer-to-peer learning, with features like touchscreens and automated cloud recording for future reference of previous lessons.
“As we continue to learn more and more about education technology, it became clear to us that the virtual spaces in which students are learning are intricately linked to the physical spaces in the classrooms they are a part of,” said Ken Dirkin, senior director of Michigan Virtual’s Learning Research Institute (MVLRI). “It was time to zero in on helping Michigan schools experience and create spaces that enhance and foster continued learning, even in an increasingly virtual world. Our Innovation Design Studio gives educators across the state a sandbox to take the tools for a test drive before investing.”
Featuring flexible furnishings, advanced technologies, and modern instructional design, the Studio serves as a statewide laboratory for exploring future-ready learning environments. In partnership with Michigan’s top designers, architects, and education innovators, it offers hands-on experiences, design-thinking sessions, and exhibitions on emerging topics such as virtual reality, robotics, technology tools, and AI exploration. By modeling next-generation classroom and professional learning spaces, the Studio empowers educators and leaders to reimagine teaching, enhance student learning, and drive innovation across Michigan’s schools, all within a collaborative, technology-rich environment. The Studio comprises three rooms that can accommodate up to 45 participants in total: 24 in the largest room and 10 in the smallest.
V/S America partnered with Michigan Virtual to provide flexible-design furniture, supplied by Great Lakes Furniture Supply, a Michigan-based distributor. Qomo is a Michigan-based school technology company that provided Bundleboards for users to experience in the Studio.
To learn more about and reserve the Studio, visit michiganvirtual.org/meeting.
To access the recording of today’s panel discussion, click here.
To see photos taken by Michigan Virtual during today’s panel discussion, click here.
To see photos taken by Bellwether Public Relations during today’s panel discussion, click here.
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About Michigan Virtual
Michigan Virtual is a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1998 that advances K-12 learning through innovation, research, and collaboration. Through the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute, we conduct original research, pilot emerging approaches, and work directly with districts to design and implement solutions that improve teaching and learning statewide. We translate work into practice through high-quality online courses for students, professional development for educators, and partnerships to be a change agent, service provider, and capacity builder with more than 500 schools and districts across Michigan. Learn more at michiganvirtual.org.
