We are in the 21st century and the importance of school furniture is undeniable. The classrooms have evolved from a static physical space into a dynamic learning environment. It plays a significant role in effective learning, but many people have this question, “How does furniture affect learning”.

Well, with the changing teaching methods, the teacher’s tools, including the classroom furniture have also evolved over a period of time. The right kind of school furniture contributes a lot to the comfort, posture and support of students and all of this, contributes positively towards students’ ability to work effectively and concentrate better.

For schools and colleges, this opens up opportunities to improve student engagement by focusing on school furniture. Tilt tables, high furniture, sit-stand furniture and so much more are recognised as complimentary learning equipment.

School furniture can influence many factors like

• Flexibility
• Mobility
• Adaptability to multiple situations

According to UNESCO, classroom furniture is the key to high performing students from a young age. And the good part is that utilising the right kind of furniture can bring in many advantages.

• Increased student collaboration
• Better focus
• Improved Involvement
• Higher Engagement
• Positive Feedback
• Stimulation

Here are 3 important things that you need to consider before buying school furniture.

While there is a need for advanced desks, there is a requirement for highly mobile furniture. For a collaborative learning classroom, mobility is a crucial feature for furniture. So, optional casters for desks and tables can be a good idea. Without them, moving desks can be challenging for younger students, and reconfiguring the classroom can disrupt the progress of sessions and projects.

When management of project materials is crucial. A teacher always needs more tools to facilitate project learning for a bigger group of students. One valuable resource is a cabinet. It allows project materials to be sorted and stored for different groups in a very efficient way. The materials can be distributed to the group when needed and again put away when finished. This is a valuable space for storing manipulatives and project materials.

You should consider different learning modalities. The 21st century classrooms support active and passive learning. This eases the transition from lecture style to teacher-guided and learner-led lessons. A classroom must make use of analog and digital visual presentation technology and supportive furniture.

Furniture in classrooms is not only an intricate part of the classroom environment but is a tool within classrooms that promotes better learning. Therefore, it is equally imperative to understand how they can promote interaction in classrooms.