Classroom Design
‘long’ wall of the classroom shortens lines of communication, eliminating the hearing difficulties pupils experience when sat in rows extending away from the teacher and enabling a more collaborative approach to learning and better room management. Employing a ‘saw tooth' benching layout in IT
suites gives students greater space and room for equipment and books, and also improves classroom management by enabling the teacher to see all computer screens clearly, allowing them to circulate easily and quickly whilst helping students who maybe struggling. Modern teaching methods and the demands of
practical and theory sessions have increased the pressure on space in science labs and flexible,
clear. Placing services and sinks out of the way on perimeter benching or on the opposite side of the workbench removes pupils’ temptation to fiddle with them and places their focus squarely on the teacher in front of them.
Sitting comfortably? If you’ve ever sat in a chair that’s too small or uncomfortable, or tried to work at a desk that’s the wrong height or doesn’t have space for your legs to fit underneath, you’ll know how difficult it is to sit still. The same applies in the classroom: students
who sit at uncomfortable desks and chairs are more likely to let their attention wander. Choosing ergonomically designed furniture which
and lack of concentration, while large, brightly coloured areas also rated poorly. The study suggests combining light walls with a feature wall in a brighter colour or flashes of colour on floors, desks and chairs to help create an atmosphere that is calm but stimulating.
Feel inspired Finally, and perhaps most importantly, classroom design is a tool to transform the way students feel about school and studying. New furniture will always make a classroom more appealing, but the right choice of furniture and fittings will have much more long lasting effects, changing teacher and student perceptions and inspiring a whole new attitude to learning.
dual purpose benching can offer a practical solution. By positioning students on one side of the bench, facing the teacher for theory sessions and placing services out of the way on the other, the layout helps to focus attention and minimise distraction whilst ensuring classes can move quickly to prepare for experiments and practicals.
Clear the desks! They say a tidy desk is a sign of a tidy mind, and it’s certainly easier to concentrate on the task in hand if your workspace is free of distractions. Many older science classrooms we see are short on storage and perimeter benches are cluttered with textbooks and equipment. Incorporating storage into centre floor and perimeter benching or building cupboards into teacher walls removes this clutter and keeps students’ lines of sight
encourages good habits such as a healthy posture can have a real impact on student behaviour. From ergonomically designed seating to saw- tooth benching in ICT spaces, a comfortable working space is essential in encouraging student productivity and learning. Size also matters: it’s important to select furniture that’s the right size and height for the age group who’ll be using it if you want to make sure they’ll have greater concentration levels.
Colour and texture It’s probably not something you think about when you teach, but the colour of your classroom can have an impact on mood and productivity. The University of Salford’s Clever Classrooms study found that simple, white environments tend to be under-stimulating, leading to restlessness
The Results Given the choice of studying in their old IT classroom or the newly installed IT suite with saw tooth benching, students at Southlands High School overwhelmingly opted for the new layout because “it feels like being at work, not at school.” The re-design of Southlands food technology
rooms to feature a teacher demonstration zone and contemporary practical cooking areas prompted a similar response, with students saying working in the classroom was “like being on Masterchef.” The installation of new music, drama and arts
facilities designed to serve the school and the wider community has also had an impact on student attitudes at Southlands. Pupils describe their new classrooms as “more professional” and “like being at university,” and it’s this kind of reaction that can help to change their perspective on their school work and inspire them to think about where their studies could lead. Southlands’ decision to create classrooms with
a more university like, professional feel has reaped rewards: record exam results for the whole school in 2012 and its best ever Science and Art results in 2013. Similar ‘professional’ classrooms which echo
the style of the workplace are becoming popular in FE colleges and UTCs as a way of preparing students to make the move from education to employment. Adopting the open plan, collaborative layouts and break out spaces found in the modern workplace is helping students to acclimatise to a more ‘grown up’, working environment and encouraging them to concentrate not just on their studies but their future careers. As the focus of education shifts towards
ensuring young people are ‘workplace ready’, education interior design has an important role to play: helping to make the next generation of workers productive in the classroom and beyond.
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www.education-today.co.uk May 2015
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