Flexible seating classrooms

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A flexible seating classroom is one in which traditional seating charts are replaced with seating arrangements that allow the students to sit where they choose.[1] One of its principal objectives is to reduce the number/duration of sedentary periods of time, which research has identified as a danger to health. The Albemarle County Public School system in Virginia adopted this approach with reported success and studied and taken into consideration also in Europe: more in details, a Flexible seating classrooms could improved an inclusive education.

Health impacts[]

Studies have found that extended sitting affects the development of the musculoskeletal system, leading to health disorders such as cardiovascular problems,[2] poor posture, back pain and neck pain.[3]

According to Dieter Breithecker at Germany's Federal Institute for Posture and Mobilization Support, brain activity slows down when the body becomes stationary, for example when sitting in a traditional classroom.[4] Breithecker recommended flexible seating arrangements to remedy these dangers.

Flexible seating classroom designs include:

  • stools
  • couches
  • beanbag chairs
  • chairs
  • beds
  • mats
  • inflatable balls
  • standing
  • laying on the floor
  • pillows
  • benches
  • hanging chairs

References[]

  1. ^ "Why the 21st Century Classroom May Remind You of Starbucks - EdSurge News". EdSurge. 1 October 2015.
  2. ^ McManus, Ali M.; Ainslie, Philip N.; Green, Daniel J.; Simair, Ryan G.; Smith, Kurt; Lewis, Nia (2015-11-01). "Impact of prolonged sitting on vascular function in young girls". Experimental Physiology. 100 (11): 1379–1387. doi:10.1113/EP085355. ISSN 1469-445X. PMID 26370881.
  3. ^ Thariq, M. G., Munasinghe, H. P., & Abeysekara, J. D. (2010). "Designing chairs with mounted desktop for university students: Ergonomics and comfort. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics," 40(1), 8-18.
  4. ^ Breithecker, D. (2006, November). "Beware of the sitting trap in learning and schooling" DesignShare [online]. (October, 2016)
  • Todino M.D., Aiello P., Sibilio M. (2016). FLEXIBLE CLASSROOMS FOR INCLUSIVE EDUCATION. In: Proceedings of ICERI2016 Conference 14th16th November 2016, Seville, Spain. p. 1674-1678, ISBN 978-84-617-5895-1, Seville, Spain, 14th-16th November 2016 https://library.iated.org/view/TODINO2016FLE
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