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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