Teachers are often aware of the messages their classroom arrangements signal to students, regarding the conduct and achievement expected within the classroom. But there can certainly be a number of unintended setbacks created from sub-optimal designs which can work against a lesson’s success. We’ve compiled the main reasons why a classroom arrangement might not be working as intended, and provided some suggestions for how the best education furniture Australia has to offer can solve these problems.
1. Discomfort
Little factors such as student comfort can reflect greatly in behaviour and educational outcomes. Often, if a student is not comfortable in their learning environment, they’ll tell the teacher immediately. But especially for younger learners, they might not fully understand why they’re feeling the way they do. They could express their discomfort in actions such as fidgeting, distracting activities such as talking, or exhibit less motivation to be in the classroom. Care should be taken that furniture is the right size for your students, comfortable, and adequately spaced away from other students. One other effective solution for education furniture Australia based institutions use is to allow student choice of a variety of chair types, such as stools, standing desks, or softer chairs.
2. Complacency
A classroom which never changes its shape can lull students into a routine, with resistance to new or creative learning activities. If students are too settled in with their friendship groups in the current seating arrangement, they’ll have trouble developing group work abilities with students who have different work styles or skillsets. Once a classroom arrangement has been in place for a term or two, it’s usually a good idea to implement some changes just for the sake of novelty. As students settle into a new classroom, their minds will also be activated to see the content from different perspectives.
3. Safety Concerns
Depending on the piece of furniture, wear and tear can make some items unsafe for everyday use. One of the main culprits are warped chair legs or backs, which could make a student fall off if they put too much pressure on it. Old tables and other wooden objects are also vulnerable to splintering if they’ve been used for too long. If students are concerned about safety, or worse, actually getting injured because of faulty furniture, a change needs to be made, and quick.
4. A Mis-matched Aesthetic
Depending on the types of activities you intend to be undertaking in class, it is important to ensure your arrangements and décor match. If you’re planning a lot of group activities in an upcoming unit, it’s not much benefit to have formal rows or individual desks. Similarly, a rigorous and demanding extension class has little need for bright distractions hung up all around the room. But on the other hand, effective theming can go a long way to help students develop cognitive ties between important concepts too. It’s good to see the classroom design as an opportunity to be creative.
5. A Lack of Respect
If the school furniture is currently in a state of disrepair, showing signs of damage, stains or graffiti, then it definitely won’t communicate a culture of respect to students. Vandalism tends to have a compounding effect – students are more tempted to scratch or write on a desk which already has some markings on it – so the best way to handle this is to start fresh with new furniture and instil a culture of respect within the class. Respect for furniture and respect for learning goes hand in hand.
As providers of the best education furniture in Australia has to offer, we design our ranges around the unique needs and requirements of schools and other places of learning. Our items are tailor made to support these various requirements to ensure that your classrooms are directly supporting the educational outcomes of your students.
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