Spotlight on Active design

Even for adults, sitting still for hours at a time can be difficult and frustrating, so imagine how challenging a sedentary learning environment can be for curious and energetic children. Contrary to the traditional classroom that keeps students sitting up straight and still in rows of forward-facing desks, research now shows that children benefit both mentally and physically from classrooms that facilitate their natural energy and movement. Designing for active classrooms is a way that teachers, administrators, and designers can encourage movement in students and foster a healthy learning environment.  Stevyn Guinnip, the corporate kinesiologist for Furniture For Life, explains the positive physical and mental outcomes for active design and some design principles to integrate into the classroom.

What are active classrooms?

Active classrooms are learning environments that provide opportunities for students to move, fidget, or change positions during classroom education time.

What impact does an active classroom have on students’ mental and physical health?

Physical movement is embedded so deeply into the way that the brain is wired that, when students are free to move according to their own needs, the impact to both mental and physical health is significant.

From a mental perspective, students who are required to sit still when their bodies are telling them to move can become stressed or frustrated and develop behavioral issues. It can also require so much mental focus to hold still, that they are not able to focus on the subject, resulting in learning difficulties and poor grades.

This lack of movement also sets children up for physical struggles in the form of de-conditioning, excess weight, and unhealthy habits that will follow them into adulthood. We already have a culture of sedentariness that is linked to 35 chronic diseases and premature death. The classroom can either contribute to the problem or help students create movement habits that will benefit them far beyond the walls of their school.

Creating active classrooms for students so that they have opportunities for low-level, frequent movement throughout their day can allow us to work with, not against, the physiology of the students making them happier and more productive learners.

What design principles can educators integrate into their classrooms to create an active learning space?

Some design principles to consider are:

Flexibility - Spaces that can be flexible and changed to accommodate a variety of activities and room configurations within a school day will allow for more freedom and options.

Noise - Spaces that create quiet movement that won’t disturb other students or make it difficult to hear the teacher’s voice are necessary for a learning environment. For example, a wobble or rocking chair would be quieter than a child in a regular chair who is constantly tapping their foot on the floor or rapping their pencil on the desk.

Safety - Spaces that provide movement options will need to consider potentials for injury to the student if the prop/space is misused.

Availability - In the past, movement props may have only been provided for children who exhibited difficulty holding still. The child can feel singled out and choose not to use the prop because of a social stigma. In truth, all children need movement to enhance learning. Therefore, any movement spaces or props should be available to any student who feels inclined to use them.

Featured

  • California District Starts Construction on New Robotics Facility

    The Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) near Silicon Valley, Calif., recently announced that construction has begun on a new Robotics Facility on the campus of Cupertino High School, according to a news release. The 14,500-square-foot facility will serve students at high schools across the entire district, providing purpose-built spaces for student creativity and collaboration.

  • University of Kansas Opens $400M Football Stadium Reconstruction

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently announced that the $400-million reconstruction of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium is complete in time for the 2025 football season, according to a news release. The university partnered with Turner Construction Company on the project.

  • FAU Starts Construction on Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building

    Florida Atlantic University recently began construction on a new academic building for its campus in Boca Raton, Fla., according to university news. The Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building will stand two stories, measure in at 22,000 square feet, and play home to the university’s Holocaust education and Jewish studies programs.

  • Creating a First and Lasting Impression with Thoughtful, Sustainable Design

    Clemson University’s Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center serves as the new front door to campus, anchoring the Tiger experience through each step in the student journey.

Digital Edition