Contemporary education is more dynamic, engaging and student-centered.
New generations require new ways of teaching and learning and adaptability is key.
At NorvaNivel, we’re passionate about the education environment, which is why we’ve been designing furniture for contemporary learning spaces since 2010.
Our singular goal is, and always has been, positive change in education and enhanced learning environments inclusive of all students.
As more furniture designers and manufacturers offer educational furniture for 21st century learning, how do educators identify the best furniture to help them meet their learning objectives?
Fit for purpose
At NorvaNivel, all our furniture is designed with specific function in mind.
From its inception, it is created to fulfill particular requirements and to facilitate positive student behaviour. Take, for example, our CLOUDIE™ Table, with its cheery and whimsical design. It was designed to discourage the set up of rows of desks, characteristic of a traditional learning environments.
Instead, it encourages a more collaborative learning space. The cloud shape also helps students feel at ease by providing options for more or less personal space, depending which section they choose to work from.
Over time, with student use and feedback from our customers, our designs have evolved, maximizing the purposefulness of our furniture.
Sensorial
Our designs are mindful of the impact of sensorial stimulation. From our range of textured fabrics for tactile students and an extensive array of colours available in our soft furnishings, to our no noise CRASHPOD™ cushions, we have considered the role of nearly all the senses in our furniture.
Flexible
Years spent observing students engaging with our furniture, along with the movement towards student-centered learning, has shown us how essential it is for children to feel a sense of ownership over their space. This means that the much of the furniture must be lightweight enough for them to easily move and that pieces need to be multi-functional, giving students in contemporary learning spaces freedom to choose how they work. One such is example is our AMPHI™ series, which can also function as work surfaces.
Additionally, most of our collections can be easily reconfigured with other collections, as they are not static. This helps educators maximise both space and budget. And, we don’t encourage teachers to fill their classrooms to the brim with furniture, but rather to select enough pieces to help students feel they have a nurturing, comfortable, and bright space.
Variability
We know how important it is for students to feel comfortable in their learning environments so as not to be distracted by discomfort, but perhaps more important is offering a range of seating to cater for different needs.
By allowing students to select from an array of seating, they can choose furniture best suited to specific tasks. In addition, being able to choose from high desks, floor seating, or a ROCKER OTT™ designed for movement, means students can move throughout the day, helping them to refocus as well as receiving the physical benefits of not being sedentary for long periods.
So the next time you see pictures of classrooms rooms filled with colourful ottomans and strangely shaped desks – remember that not all school furniture is created equal! Unless the student and educator have been carefully considered in the design, the benefits to the learning space and the student’s experience won’t be seen.