If you want the latest in tech classrooms try this...its the new room at Oakfield School in Wigan, England. The room is a multi sensory studio but treated more like a classroom. The school is secondary age and the students range from mainstream to moderate learning difficulties.
I did the initial consultancy and then ran two days training working with the students and staff in the studio in April 2007 and it has proved to be a massive hit.
As more and more schools move away from the white soft room model and look towards an education approach to design, this studio is a step on from the original multi sensory room. It utilises tools like large video projection and colour change lighting - and the lack of chairs - is a refreshing change for the students. The video is the most apparent thing in the room, it's big and it hosts computer programs, DVD and the Nintendo Wii.
The Wii was used in the training for indoor sports sessions. At Oakfield there are some wheelchair users and with the Wii on the giant screen they really accessed sport in a fun and appropriate way. This studio is not designed for relaxation, communication or education - its all of those things and, again, the minimalist approach is a hit. It is really refreshing to have a classroom which the students almost fight to get in!
Richard Hirstwood