5 Indisputable Benefits of Flexible, Ergonomic Seating In Classrooms

The impact of environment on students and student performance has been well documented over the past several years, but the significance of even the simplest physical factors is still often overlooked in classroom design. As new innovations continue to surface in the area of ergonomic and flexible seating, it’s well worth asking: what are the benefits of these developments? From physical and mental well-being to topics of collaboration, focus, and productivity, we’ll explore some of the key benefits for students, teachers, and learning environments as a whole.

1. Benefits for Physical Health

Perhaps the most extensively well-researched aspect of ergonomics is the value to physical health and well-being. Ergonomically correct furniture helps to support proper spinal alignment, promote physical balance, reduce unnecessary exertion, avoid putting too much pressure on any single point of the body, and allow for natural movements and healthy physical activity. In contrast to many traditional furnishing elements (think one-size-fits-all school chairs that are connected to rigid, fixed-height desks), much of contemporary furniture is now capitalizing on the science of ergonomics.

Designing a truly ergonomic classroom setting isn’t only about selecting the right modern classroom desks, chairs, and other pieces. It’s also about finding ways to arrange the space so that students can interact as naturally as possible with their environment. This includes how furniture is spatially arranged, how furniture can be adjusted or adapted to suit a particular space or activity, and (of course) the specifications of the furniture itself. So how can specific classroom elements help to reduce physical strain and improve physical well-being? Here are just a few key examples:

• Utilizing flexible chairs, stools, or other ergonomic seating elements helps to match the natural movements of students. This is especially important for younger children, whose tendency to move around should be supported, not suppressed. For older children and adolescents, the tendency to pivot, flex, and lean on furniture can be optimally met by physically responsive seating as well.

• Rather than using a traditional chalkboard affixed to the wall at the head of the classroom, consider introducing a mobile whiteboard into the space. A mobile whiteboard can be positioned strategically to maximize space, placed closer to students to reduce eye strain, or moved around to achieve angles that prevent students from craning their necks to view content.

• Height-adjustable desks are a key feature of ergonomically designed classrooms. Since no two students are 100% alike in size, height, or physical proportions, an adjustable desk can allow individual students to find the fit that suits them best. This helps to prevent undue stress on the spine, overextension of the torso, and discomfort during seating for long periods.

2. Benefits for Mental Focus

While traditional theories mistakenly emphasized the irrelevance of the body about the mind, the past few decades of research have underscored the powerful connection between physical well-being and mental agility. In their recent study Advances in Ergonomics in Design, Usability & Special Populations, researchers Francisco Rebelo and Marcelo Soares note that “Spaces and furniture are considered pedagogical material having fundamental importance in the result of the performance of students’ and teachers’ work.” This aligns brilliantly with the concept of the classroom as “the third teacher,” a model that emphasizes the role that the environment plays in the act of learning. Far from being irrelevant, these factors have an essential function in optimizing the learning experience, both physically and mentally.

Ultimately, ergonomic seating options support the best possible learning outcomes by improving the overall quality of the student experience. Here’s how:

• Ergonomic chairs and stools allow not only for proper spinal alignment but also the proper alignment of the respiratory system. When students are permitted to sit upright, oxygen intake is increased, natural breathing patterns are improved, and stress is reduced.

• Many traditional furniture options interfere with blood circulation. For example, a rigid, oversized seat might press into the backs of a student’s legs, or an inflexible desk that is positioned too low might cause a student to hunch or physically constrict himself. By promoting healthy and unimpeded blood flow, ergonomic furniture increases overall physical energy, as well as blood flow to the brain.

• In non-dynamic environments, students’ attention span tends to lag. The same is true for students experiencing non-dynamic furniture. The capacity for motion during the learning experience entails a host of physical and mental benefits, from variations in heart rate to brain stimulation through frequent changes in points of focus to the ability to work not only at one’s own pace but also at one’s ideal learning style.

• Overall physical discomfort is a major problem associated with non-ergonomic furniture. By contrast, ergonomically designed tables and chairs place physical comfort at the forefront, and in so doing, promote relaxation and an overall sense of ease. Under optimal conditions, the relaxed, ergonomically supported student is more likely to feel mentally engaged, less irritable, and more inclined to participate in class.

3. Benefits for Diverse Classroom Activities

Versatility is an absolutely essential quality of classroom furnishings. Gone are the days when an interminable, static lecture would occupy the bulk of classroom time, and contemporary educational settings are placing an ever-increasing emphasis on the value of varying activities. Since students are no longer expected to merely passively participate by absorbing information, more active methodologies naturally call for more active furnishings.

In the book Ergonomic Workplace Design for Health, Wellness, and Productivity, author Alan Hedge keenly notes, “Ergonomics is the science of work, and it is a valuable discipline that focuses on improving the ability of people to perform work.” Of course, in a classroom environment, “work” isn’t simply synonymous with productivity. It is also inextricably tied to creativity, mental alertness, and a positive degree of physical comfort. Work within the classroom manifests itself through a variety of activities, from time spent alone or with others, to quiet activities such as writing versus engaging in collective discussions, to the use of various media to convey information and spur creative dialogue among participants.

How classroom design affects performance is, to a large degree, intuitive. As Hedge further points out, “We all know from personal experience how critical the design of the environment is to the successful performance of work.” When spaces are essentially static, seemingly engineered for the purpose of only one task or a single mode of being, individuals are denied the opportunity to thrive. On the other hand, when spaces are designed more dynamically, to accommodate a range of motions, activities, and interactions, students feel free (and empowered) to engage in the discovery and exploration components of learning, as well as opportunities for authentic and constructive self-expression. Put simply, a student who feels free to “be herself” in the classroom, a state of being that is encouraged by seating elements with a flexible range of motion and comfortable ergonomic support, is far more likely to be engaged.

For classes with younger students, different types of ergonomic seating can be used to accommodate different types of learning. For example, ergonomic chairs might be most appropriate for listening and watching presentations on a whiteboard, stools with a 360-degree range of motion might be most suitable to group projects and collaborative work time, and flat poufs or bean bag chairs might be best for quiet reading or free time. For older students in more focused academic settings and multipurpose spaces, it’s essential to anticipate an ideal range of motion and comfortable seating for individual tasks, collaborative projects, and activities involving media. 

While individual seating elements themselves should support versatility, ergonomic chairs, and stools also tend to be highly mobile. This is a major plus for classrooms with a limited amount of space. Choosing ergonomic chairs that stack, and that are lightweight enough to be moved easily, contributes to a truly dynamic learning environment. Rather than reinforce the rigidity of traditional classroom settings, versatile furniture enables teachers to create flexible spaces in which students can feel more actively involved.

4. Benefits for Collaboration

Just as ergonomic seating solutions indisputably help to improve individual work, they also help to improve collective work. Being able to move freely and naturally facilitates interactions among individuals. This is vital in educational environments, where student tasks are best served by movement and activity. Rigidly forward-facing, fixed seating and desk elements are more conducive to isolation and passivity. By contrast, contemporary ergonomic seating allows for a positive balance of individual and group learning.

Three decades ago, Michel Foucault identified the problem of modeling academic spaces after industrial ones and rightly noted that traditional classroom design is decidedly industrial. This is problematic for several reasons, and current research highlights the dangers of treating education as a factory-style system of input and output of information. Of course, the school is not simply a “teaching machine,” but a place to explore, discover, experiment, and play, all vital processes to the act of learning.

While furniture design can undoubtedly contribute to more positive interactions in the classroom, specific applications can vary widely. Here are just a few ways in which ergonomic furnishings can help to promote collaboration:

• Current teaching methodologies often emphasize presentation followed by participation. In ergonomically designed classrooms, students can easily absorb information and stay engaged during presentations, then just as easily share content during the participation portion. In the latter case, when individual students speak, ergonomic seating makes it easier for other students to turn and face the speaker, increasing the potential for overall classroom engagement.

• Ergonomically designed chairs and desks are easily configured to create organic group work environments. This could include combined group workstations, round table seating set-ups, or free-form seating arrangements. When students are able to swivel, bend, flex, or change their physical position, they are more likely to express their ideas with confidence and ease.

• Ergonomic furniture design emphasizes egalitarianism among students. Rather than organize students into front versus back or centrally located versus peripheral, innovatively designed stools, desks, and more place all students on equal footing. This helps students to feel more comfortable, more empowered, and highly valued as contributors to their classroom environment.

5. Benefits for Student (and Teacher) Happiness

Ultimately, experts, teachers, parents, and students agree: that the learning experience should be fun. From the way that students think and talk about school to how they learn and the projects they achieve, everything starts with how they feel in the classroom. From the smallest details (comfortable and ergonomically supportive chairs, height-adjustable desks, and mobile furniture) to the overall layout of the classroom, furniture has been shown to have an indisputable impact on happiness and success within the learning environment.

Just as numerous professional workspaces (especially those at the cutting edge of innovation and productivity) have chosen to redesign in favor of employee happiness, a number of schools have chosen to follow the same path. When configuring an optimal environment at Buckingham County Primary and Elementary Schools in Virginia – an impressive iteration of ergonomic design for educational settings – project designer Dina Sorenson articulated the following: “In essence, when a[n]… experience is created to be joyful by design and deeply considered for the educational programming inherent to the space type, it reinforces the power of individual and group behavioral health connections… The inspirational quality afforded by these experiences are designed to enhance creative exploration, pique on-going curiosity and speak to the joy of learning for all ages.”

Of course, student happiness would be enough of a reason to opt for ergonomic seating, but copious research also demonstrates the connection of happiness to student engagement, involvement, and productivity. Simply put, when students are happier, they perform better. A frequently cited study at the University of Pennsylvania found a direct correlation between student well-being and academic performance, with happiness directly tied to the achievement of higher GPAs. While this is great news for proud parents and self-motivated students, it’s also fantastic for teachers. When the “third teacher” environment of a classroom can help to support educational growth rather than hinder it, instructors are free to develop the best possible curriculum applications, student activities, and projects to promote active, lifelong learning.

Transforming Educational Environments for the Better

As we take a look at the innovations in classroom furniture design, it’s encouraging to note how simple changes are having a dramatic impact on the experience of students and instructors alike. Just like the most current and effective teaching methodologies, good classroom furniture design puts the needs of the student at the forefront. Ergonomic seating is helping to promote better physical health for individuals of a range of sizes, ages, and activity levels. Likewise, people are finding it increasingly possible to effectively focus throughout the day, enhancing mental performance and overall productivity. The emphasis on incorporating a range of activities into an educational program is finding an ideal match in flexible furniture designed to suit a wide range of activities and environments. Alongside increased benefits for the individual, ergonomic furnishings are also helping to promote improved collaboration, cooperation, and group learning activities. Finally, factors of physical and mental well-being, as well as benefits for both the individual student and entire classroom groups, are contributing significantly to overall student happiness.

Looking forward, we can expect to see a number of exciting developments as classroom furniture and ergonomic technology continue to evolve. Just as the process of learning itself is intrinsically dynamic, so too is the field of furniture design. Individuals and institutions interested in optimizing the learning experience, whether for preschool, K-12, and even high school, college, and adult-age learners, will find abundant resources to assist in creating the ideal learning environment. To find the best furniture design for your particular environment, customizability is often key, and it’s important to select a furniture manufacturer whose materials, aesthetics, and construction match your space’s needs. For schools interested in enhancing not only the student experience, but also classroom appearance, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability, ergonomic and flexible furniture provide a number of additional benefits that are well worth taking into account.

Ultimately, utilizing flexible furniture to improve the learning environment should be viewed as an exciting opportunity, not only to maximize the potential of learning spaces but also to create lasting change in the lives and education of individual students. Hopefully, as our understanding of holistic health and the nature of learning continue to move forward, ergonomic furniture design will continue to significantly transform the contemporary classroom for the better.

Author bio: Martin Johansson is a former engineer and active architectural consultant whose work centers on the use of sustainable technologies to maximize functionality in public spaces. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois with his wife, three children, and a German shepherd named Maxwell.