FuturePLAY is a sustainable and scalable educational program aimed at developing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Design, and Mathematics (STEAM) literacy in elementary school students, from grades four to seven. We work with teachers to develop learning environments that encourage critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. FuturePLAY is designed to harness the power of STEAM, enhance student readiness for secondary and post-secondary programs, and prepare them for the tech-enabled opportunities that await them.

FuturePLAY Labs

Furniture

Optimizing STEAM learning requires a comfortable and versatile classroom environment. Just like corporations are abandoning the archaic office cubicle, schools are finding that students seated in rows of desks is becoming quickly outdated. Collaboration and engagement are facilitated by mobility and customization, and FuturePLAY collaborates with leading Canadian manufacturers of educational furniture for their eco-sustainable, innovative designs. The furniture in FuturePLAY Labs spaces provides dynamism to match teachers’ lesson plans.

Sit-to-stand tables have adjustable height & tilt, and the surface acts as a dry erase markerboard.

Balance stools create opportunity for movement and repositioning and keep students engaged with any task.

Bench-style ottomans provide a soft surface for students to sit, kneel, and maneuver freely with comfort.

 Professional Development for Teachers

To help ensure that students are working with the most cutting-edge resources for building applicable skills, FuturePLAY provides teachers with support and access to a varied network of technology industry professionals. FuturePLAY uses online collaboration tools for teachers to easily search for specialized support on subjects such as Coding; Arts and Media; 3D Design; Robotics and Electronics; and Applied Design, Skill, and Technologies (ADST).

Professional development offers learning events where teachers have access to a wide array of self-paced learning modules. Besides being a portal for teacher collaboration and development, this online resource provides a direct link to FuturePLAY coordinators.

Under the GUI Academy

Offers a suite of STEAM training courses that work with both the teacher and students in combination until the teacher is ready to take over and lead courses with minimal guidance.

Zen Maker Lab

Offers STEAM sessions for schools in the fields of 3D Design, 3D Printing, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Robotics, and Coding.

Artist in residence

AIRs is an arts education initiative for children that uses iPads, computers, and more traditional arts materials to bridge art and technology through the lens of STEAM concepts and creative goals.

Donors

FuturePLAY is fortunate to have world-class funders from the private sector, the City of Vancouver, and is supported by the BC Ministry of Education. The majority of our supporters have been with us since our start. We are known for our unique partnership approach that creates value and engagement far beyond financial contributions.