Personalize It
March 10, 2021Designing Learning Spaces Post Pandemic
March 31, 2021
Why Soft Seating? Part VI
To see new possibilities within a current paradigm requires creativity and adaptability. It means moving beyond fixed structures and closed systems to pursue dreams, goals, and passions. As soft seating experts, we prioritize the adaptability of our furniture. The ability for instructors and students to move and interact with one another in the classroom is key, and our designs are intended to make both collaboration and solo work possible.
Soft seating affords the mobility and adaptability that is necessary to improve learning environments. A study entitled “The Room Itself Is Active: How Classroom Design Impacts Student Engagement” examines the effects of more open and mobile classrooms on student engagement. Participants found that it was much easier to collaborate and work together to solve problems in these “active learning spaces”: “The mobile chairs/desks enabled students to interact with other students in order to ask questions and clear up misunderstandings. Flexibility and openness were key attributes in promoting a community of learners, and allowing students to learn holistically, encouraging student engagement in learning” (Rands & Gansemer-Topf, 2017). When students are able to move about the classroom and interact with their peers or seek a moment alone, they play a more active and intentional role in their own learning.
Sensory and safe spaces have a specific goal in mind: creating versatile and maneuverable products to serve our learners with unique challenges.
Products like those in our Sensory and Safe series are a prime example of how soft seating can be used as a tool for adaptability. Sensory and safe spaces have a specific goal in mind: creating versatile and maneuverable products to serve our learners with unique challenges in typical classroom environments. We want students and educators to stay safe and engaged with countless customizable options. These all-foam pieces are fully zippered, meaning there are no pinch points, hard wood surfaces, or edges. Students can use pieces like the Fōm Divider to spend some time alone, or they can work in groups by connecting pieces like the Honeycomb Ottomans. The lightweight design of this series allows for spaces to remain safe while also adapting to fit any classroom need.
Students can use pieces like the Fōm Divider to spend some time alone, or they can work in groups by connecting pieces like the Honeycomb Ottomans.
From our matching profiles to our solid and light-weight construction, our furniture is intentionally engineered to adapt to whatever the environment needs and designed to support the journey of on-going discovery. Adaptable spaces are the key to better learning and working environments, and we’re glad we can provide the tools to help create these spaces.
Source: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&context=edu_pubs
