To find the area of the shaded region, follow these steps:

1. Calculate the area of the larger rectangle:

   • The dimensions are given as $14 \, \text{ft}$ (width) and $12 \, \text{ft}$ (height).
   • Area of the larger rectangle = $14 \times 12 = 168 \, \text{square feet}$.

2. Calculate the area of the inner (unshaded) square:

   • The dimensions are $8 \, \text{ft} \times 8 \, \text{ft}$.
   • Area of the inner square = $8 \times 8 = 64 \, \text{square feet}$.

3. Subtract the area of the inner square from the larger rectangle:

   • Area of the shaded region = $168 - 64 = 104 \, \text{square feet}$.

Thus, the area of the shaded region is 104 square feet.

Would you like further details or have any questions?

Here are 5 related questions to expand your understanding:

1. How do you calculate the area of composite shapes that include circles?
2. What would the shaded area be if the inner square had different dimensions?
3. How would the solution change if the outer shape were a circle instead of a rectangle?
4. Can you derive a formula for the shaded area if only the dimensions are given symbolically?
5. How do perimeter calculations differ from area calculations in such problems?

Tip: Always ensure you subtract the area of the inner shape from the outer shape to get the shaded area correctly.