Essentials Magazine Essentials Fall 2017 | Page 20

Reconfiguring
the classroom for healthy and
successful learners
BY BOB HILL
A
s Millennials pour into the workforce, they’re bringing a renewed sense of col-
laboration and flexibility. And these young professionals expect their workspaces
to keep up. Simultaneously, next generation learners are walking into the class-
room for the first time, and these students also desire flexibility to meet their individu-
al needs. One-to-one device initiatives and personalized learning tools work to address
these trends, but districts often overlook the physical components that facilitate the
best 21st century learning experience.
The classroom sets the foundation for in-
novative learning, and that goes beyond the
qualifications of the teacher or the breadth of the
curriculum. Classroom furniture, including stu-
dent desks, must keep pace with technology and
students’ varied learning styles to support their
overall well-being, ultimately leading to greater
engagement and academic success.
Link Between Health,
Engagement and Academics
Walk into an average classroom, and you’re
likely to see most students just where you
20 essentials | fall 2017
expect them to be — sitting. But this seeming-
ly normal aspect of today’s school system puts
students at a learning disadvantage. After just
30 minutes of sitting, students’ metabolism
slows, blood circulation decreases, good cho-
lesterol drops and blood sugar rises. Students
lose focus the longer they sit, making them less
likely to engage. Their desks become a barrier
to learning.
Elementary school students benefit from
movement-based activities already integrated
into the school day, as well as physical education
and recess. As they transition to middle school
and high school, however, static classroom time