Photo courtesy of Steelcase
Have a Seat...or not! HOW FURNITURE SUPPORTS LEARNING BY MARY MOWAD GUITEAU, IIDA, IFMA Education has evolved by leaps and bounds over the past decade. The ways in which teachers teach and students learn have evolved. With more collaboration, more project-based learning, and new subject matter, the physical environment of schools has had to change to support these new ways of learning…. that includes educational furniture. Providing a palette of place, where learning can occur in different locations, can promote collaboration. Providing a palette of posture, to allow students to sit or stand, be still or move, can promote comprehension. To understand the ways furniture supports learning, we need to first understand a few of the different types of spaces within a school setting.
TYPE OF SPACE
ATTRIBUTES
POSTURES
CLASSROOMS / STEAM SPACES
• Project based • Collaborative
• Sitting • Standing
IN-BETWEEN SPACES
• Informal • Transitional • Multi-purpose
• Sitting • Lounging • Standing
• Connection to nature • Biophilic design • Fresh air
• Walking • Sitting • Standing
OUTDOOR SPACES
HOLLY & SMITH ARCHITECTS, APAC
Examples of furniture to support the learning that takes place in each type of space
TYPE OF SPACE
FURNITURE
CLASSROOMS / STEAM SPACES
• Mobile chairs • Mobile tables • Access to analog and digital
IN-BETWEEN SPACES
• Casual lounge seating • Tables for devices • Multi-purpose use seating and tables
OUTDOOR SPACES
• Collaborative groupings • Durable materials
EXAMPLE
Photos courtesy of Steelcase
Why is this important? Students can learn in many different ways. The furniture in schools should support those various learning opportunities. This can increase student engagement and comfort, which can in turn improve performance, retention, and behavior.
I have seen this first-hand with my own son. He is in 6th grade and makes good grades, but he cannot sit still to do his homework or to read a book. As an experiment, I got a kinetic stool that doesn’t sit flat on the ground, and I let him sit on it to do his work. When I asked him to sit still in a static chair, he could not do it, but the simple act of being able to move a little on the stool immediately helped him complete the work. Personally,
I could not do my work while moving, but he works better that way. The same theory can be applied to an entire classroom of children. Some may work better in a static position, while others may be more productive with a little movement. Providing furniture that supports all types of students and all types of learning is paramount in the new educational environment. Education has evolved by leaps and bounds, and educational furniture has too. So, you can have a seat...or not! ■ Using a kinetic stool for homework.
H/S EXPERIENCE As human beings, we spend our personal and professional time within the built environment. As Architects, we are privileged to create spaces where people can gather, live, learn, work, eat, sleep, and worship. Therefore, it is incumbent that we design spaces that enhance the quality of life and nurture a greater passion for living. Our design approach is influenced by the environment, culture, and community in which architecture exists. To take it further... We Design for Life. HOLLY & SMITH ARCHITECTS, APAC
Mary Mowad Guiteau is a registered interior designer and Director of Interior Design at Holly & Smith Architects. She is a member of the International Interior Design Association and International Facility Management Association. She has been involved in the design of education facilities for over 25 years. Hammond • New Orleans •Lafayette