Buying educational furniture in Sydney can be hectic, especially if you don’t know what to look for. While traditional teaching mainly consisted of a teach and listen, stand and sit format, today’s educators know this is not ideal. Teachers must work harder to engage their students in active learning. Since we are seeing a lot of collaboration and movement in the classroom, it is important to invest in functional furniture. This means that before investing in new furniture, you should consider the following things.
Safety and health
Even the best teachers will struggle to engage students in an environment that is unsafe. It is, therefore, important to prioritise the safety of students when choosing educational furniture. Not only should educational furniture be sturdy, but it should also be made from non-toxic materials.
Flexibility
From the classroom to the workplace, there has been a shift toward flexible classrooms and workstations. Students learn best in a wide range of settings and what is best for one is far from ideal for another. This means that instead of purchasing identical furniture for each and every student, it is important to consider a mixture. The traditionally structured chair and desk will function nicely for many. However, some students need to fidget and move more. This means that chairs that tilt and bounce will support their concentration better. When students are given a choice in school furniture, they get empowered to determine how they learn best.
Ergonomics
You should consider ergonomics when purchasing school furniture. Students come in different sizes and shapes and it is crucial to respect their diversity. You can address the discrepancies between your students by ensuring you invest in chairs and desks that come in adjustable heights.
Function and mobility
Educators today do not spend their entire day lecturing their students. Rather, to promote engagement, they are actively involving learners in the learning process. The classroom may transform from a historic site of the battle to a boardroom to a laboratory and into a standard classroom from one hour to the next. With all that in mind, furniture should move and reconfigure between lessons.
Offer value
The budget has a lot of weight when it comes to buying furniture for your classroom. It would be great to outfit the school in the best form money can buy but there are a finite amount of resources in schools. As a result, getting the best value for your money is very important. Materials should be easy to clean, scratch resistant and durable enough to withstand abuse and constant use.
Service
No one wants to plan for issues after making a huge investment but in case of a problem, it is wise to have enough backup. This also applies to buying furniture for your classroom, which sees a lot of wear and tear. Service quality, product warranty and delivery time should factor into your buying decision.
Technology
You should invest in educational furniture in Sydney that is designed for schools to make integration seamless. It also makes practical and financial sense to invest in furniture that’ll accommodate technological growth in the future.