Flexible Classroom Seating is Changing the Shape of Teaching

Fidgety students are becoming a thing of the past as flexible seating pops up in classrooms around New Zealand and the world.

New types of classroom seating are providing an outlet for kid's energy as traditional desks and chairs are supplemented with cushion chairs, standing desks, yoyo collaboration furniture, and stools that wobble in all directions.

Teachers and educational furniture designers alike are increasingly embracing lessons learned from the world of trendy digital start-ups: different types of seating can make people more comfortable, which in turn can boost productivity and creative thinking.

Although it can take some getting used to initially, balancing on an apple stool or a “yoyo” stool can bring multiple benefits, from burning more calories to strengthening core muscles.

Schools have moved away from a traditional model of teaching to one where students work on projects that foster critical thinking and creativity and they need furniture that supports this new approach.

This new wave of educational furniture is a far cry from the days when schools insisted that students sit still with both feet on the floor and hands clasped on top of their desks.

But schools still need to be strategic about selecting their classroom furniture and seating.

It's important they feel good and look good, but more than that, school furniture still needs to serve an educational purpose.