BOLD by DLR Group

WHAT WE DO

We partner with school communities to transform traditional models into future-ready learning environments.

THE BOLD PROCESS

We collaborate with you every step of the way in a process that’s tailored to individual school requirements.

WHAT IS INVOLVED

Our process is tailored to meet the needs of each individual school that include workshops such as:

District-Campus Goal Alignment
Learner, Educator, and Leader Profiles
Cultural & Academic Expectations
Policies, Procedures, and Systems Development
Educator Skill Development

OUR KEY SERVICES

Educational
Visioning

Define the future of learning of a campus or district to inform capital investments.

Change Leadership Development

Build leadership capacity to sustain change.

Space & System Alignment

Ensure all variables align to reach educational vision.

Culture & Academic Expectation Development

Identify daily behavioral expectations to build a positive culture.

Organizational Development

System-based approach to improve effectiveness and outcomes.

Spatial Affordance Training

Build educators’ skills and motivativations to implement new strategies with new tools.

Behavioral Commissioning

Targeting training and coaching informed by on-site observations.

Benchmarking & Research

Measure progress toward goals and track return on investment.

OUTCOMES THAT BENEFIT LEARNING

Acoustics
Proper acoustics which align with intended learning activities ensure spaces are effective

Display
Displays, whether electronic or tactile, are important for sharing student work; setting expectations around their use can ensure they don’t overwhelm the learning environment

Transparency
Transparency is a helpful tool shown to build relationships while also allowing for passive supervision of the shared collaborative spaces.

Shared Collaboration Space
It’s important to set clear cultural expectations for both educators and learners regarding the use of shared collaboration spaces so they benefit (rather than distract) the learning experience.

Learning on Display
Educators and learners benefit from ample access to writable surfaces and opportunities for visual brainstorming and collaboration

Operable Partitions
Operable partitions work best when they are easily
movable by educators and learners, allowing for seamless transitions between activities

Variety of Furniture
Academic expectations set the ‘north star’ for the anticipated learning activities; both are supported through a variety of furniture and space types

Shared Collaboration Space.
Shared collaboration space can support a large group gatherings; ample visibility and flexible furniture allow for a range of configurations

Reconfigurable Furniture
Movement and flexibility are enabled by mobile furniture and can be supported through clear behavioral expectations.

Overhead Doors
Overhead doors allow for the separation of smaller learning activities and can accommodate large
group experiences

Storage
Shared storage enables a collaborative atmosphere within a learning community and needs to be carefully
coordinated to ensure a variety of storage needs are met and management is clear

Hands-on Learning
Hands-on opportunities are most effective when supported with the appropriate tools (e.g. worksurfaces, materials, water, storage) and when explicitly defined and incorporated into academic expectations

Shared Educator Spaces
Dedicated spaces for educators provide opportunities for collaboration and allow for higher utilization of learning spaces

Transparency
Putting educator collaboration on display allows for passive connections and modeling for learners

Educator Workstations
Ergonomic and functional workstations allow for educator comfort, elevate their ability to operate as professionals, and provide for personal storage needs

Climate Responsiveness
Outdoor learning spaces can be designed to respond to the natural climate (e.g. shading, fans, passive circulation, intentional material selection), allowing for the requisite physical comfort

Furniture
Natural settings can be supplemented with outdoor furniture and are best utilized when they accommodate a variety of group sizes and are resilient to the elements

OUR TEAM

Marilyn’s 25-year education career includes serving as a principal and assistant superintendent and opening innovative campuses utilizing inquiry-based learning — experiences that proved the importance of BOLD in the successful transition into any new environment. Through this work, she has applied her doctoral research in educational leadership to inspire leadership growth, personalized learning, and innovative designs across the nation.

DR. MARILYN DENISON

Educational Learning Designer

Tim is an educational learning designer who works with design teams and clients to ensure teaching and learning objectives are met. He supports school districts across the country in developing high impact, engaging, and innovative learning environments. Tim is a 30-year education professional, spending the last 10 years as superintendent. He has demonstrated successful leadership at the district level, most recently for Yorkville CUSD 115, where he managed a wide range of planning and implementation programs across the district.

DR. TIM SHIMP

Educational Learning Designer

Amanda brings excitement and energy along with expertise in the internal curriculum workings of schools. She is the former managing director of strategic initiatives with a focus on school transformation for a district serving more than 70,000 students and more than 73 schools. Her background includes overseeing teaching and learning, opening new schools, and building shared knowledge at central office around district vision.

AMANDA ZIAER, MA

Educational Learning Designer

Jillian is passionate about the connection between humans and their environment. Her goal on each project is to tailor unique solutions in the built environment that support the total well-being of all inhabitants. As an Interior Designer, Jillian supports educators in exploring and learning about the opportunities available with new furniture to improve learner engagement and outcomes. She thrives on the opportunity to translate her client’s passions and visions into reality.

JILLIAN DIFFEE, IIDA

Interior Designer

OUR PARTNERS

“BOLD and DLR Group gave us an amazing foundation to build from. We were able to establish a culture and climate of empathy, unity, excellence, and integrity with our staff and students right from the start of the year because of our experience with BOLD.”

Shane Heironimus, Principal Ben Reifel Middle School / Sioux Falls

Dr. Rhodes, Superintendent of Putnam City Schools about the Bold Advantages.

“Through our BOLD services, we helped educators develop and implement a clear vision for the future that empowers them to fully leverage the new James L. Capps Middle School in Warr Acres, Okla. To ensure a successful transition to inquiry-based learning, we guided campus staff through a series of activities and workshops to learn the inquiry cycle and develop a new curriculum to support it.”

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