Classroom Furniture Arrangement Means A Lot More Than You Think

February 16, 2016Company News

Does the arrangement of student school desks affect a student’s productivity?

Take a second to think about all the distractions that surround students in the classroom – sitting next to the window, beside a chatty student, or even adjacent to the garbage can (which occasionally turns into a basketball hoop for balled up papers). Therefore, it makes sense that there is a science behind how furniture for schools is arranged.

Vanderbilt University conducted a study to find the most productive arrangement of educational furniture in the classroom. The researchers took into consideration all types of students that would be sitting at these school desks and tables – from the class clown to a student with special needs. The study focused on students around age nine in third and fourth grade. What they found with the arrangement of elementary school furniture can be seen in the image provided, but below are some of the study’s key takeaways:

Desks need to be farthest away from three things – the garbage can, pencil sharpener, and door. Higher traffic areas that are constantly being used throughout the day limit productivity.

Students should be close to the teacher’s office desk, but not too This study found students close to the teacher had a higher rate of participation and longer attention span. However, this could also be a high traffic area causing distractions so keep a little distance.

The “hot seats” for primary school furniture are located in the front and center of the classroom. These areas provide the most productive teacher/ student interactions and the least amount of distractions.

Not to toot our own horn, but while OstermanCron is known as one of the premier school furniture suppliers in the area, we’re also recognized as one of the top dogs for presenting educational courses. We offer CEU’s (Continuing Education Units) designed to help you stay on top of the newest innovations in the education furniture industry. If interested, you should certainly stop by for one sometime – we’d love to educate you!