ERGONOMICS & THE DYNAMIC CLASSROOMS

The optimal study requires effective workflow, with little chance of harm and cumulative trauma. Anyone may read and learn if they are a voracious reader and student. They may contend that the environment you are in, your knowledge, and the physical setting are all irrelevant but your concentration on the text you are reading. However, when we apply the same logic to the realities of educational institutions, the empirical data is undeniable: having classrooms and learning environments in good condition is essential for students to attain the desired academic outcomes. The shape of the classrooms has a direct bearing on how well the children do. A decent Educational Infrastructure with renovated spaces has been shown to increase student and teacher enthusiasm for learning and attendance. Research suggests that teachers in an educational environment with Ergonomic infrastructure have on average 10% lower absenteeism than those in environments with deficient infrastructure.

Educational Infrastructure

The ambiance and the process of learning are greatly influenced by the furniture. It is equally crucial to education as technology, buildings, and other resources. For the preservation of good health, enhancement of academic performance, understanding, and engagement, effective implementation of classroom ergonomics is vital.

 

The fact that educationists are increasingly emphasizing the quality of education, many institutions, thus, employ an ad hoc or piecemeal approach to investing in their education infrastructure. Many classrooms are furnished with desks, tables, and seats that aren’t suitable for the students who use them. Schools and Colleges should furnish their classrooms and other learning areas with furnishings that make it easy for students to complete their coursework without interfering with their ability to concentrate.

Institutions that offer adjustable chairs and desks will be better equipped to give students adequately suited work areas since the age range and size inequalities among them may be substantial. The pedagogy of various institutions can be strengthened by choosing furniture with great care and consideration.

Conventional VS Ergonomic

Conventional chairs often feature a hardback that slopes backward and attaches to the seat, which can reduce blood flow, curve the back, strain the shoulder, neck, and back muscles, squeeze the spinal cord to one side, and compress the intestinal tract. In contrast, Ergonomic chairs are flexible and promise comfortable sitting hours without any disruptions due to muscular aches while studying.

Conventional sitting desks are common in many institutions, however, they are less adaptable and don’t meet the physical needs of every student. They cannot be altered or personalized in any way. On the contrary, Ergonomic sit-and-stand desks aid students’ back and legs from strain and allow them to stand while studying when necessary.

Furniture that isn’t tailored to a student’s need might impair their attention span. The classroom is comparable to other workplaces due to the reciprocity of static work and force. Static work refers to the musculoskeletal effort needed to maintain a posture. While force refers to the amount of tension created in the muscles to keep that position. Consequently, the ergonomic standards for furniture used in classrooms are the same as those used in workplaces. 

Need of the hour

In the decade or so, as the use of computers in classrooms has advanced from a gimmick to an indispensable status quo, instead of merely sitting and taking notes while the teacher speaks, or hunching over a flat desk to finish an assignment, students actively participate in class by tapping on keyboards and looking at video displays.

It is typical for postures that conflict with the human body’s anatomical constraints and natural alignment to result in, what we discussed in the first line of this blog, cumulative trauma. To lessen the likelihood of computer usage resulting in health issues, students are essentially advised to sit with their eyes correctly aligned with the screen and their arms and hands at a right angle on the keyboard. Hence, this calls for an undeniable need for Ergonomic Educational Infrastructure in the classrooms.