Contemporary desks are changing to fit with the needs of classrooms. Taking a tour of classrooms today would reveal desks that are a stark break from the square surfaces in a desk. Today’s student desk is more likely to be rectangular in shape in keeping with the need for more functional design. No longer are the rigid models with cubby holes for student supplies the norm.
School administrators are opting for these designs in multiple grade levels. They have more options when it comes to choices in a student desk. These include desks with latching lids and those that are open in the front. Older students may be more satisfied with desks that feature a combination design. These offer a larger area to work on and are much more comfortable. This desk is designed with dual legs on the desk and the chair. These desks are a good option because they can be used by students that write with either the left or right hand.
Students have more room for creativity in their curriculum. Teachers are evolving their ideas on what an ideal desk for a student should entail. Some, like one particular teacher in California, think the desks are better because they support student mobility. Students can break into groups while working. This is conducive to student learning as they share their thoughts and ideas in the contemporary curriculum.
Students also need to be able to break into groups. This can often be determined by the type of assignment. This allows desks to function as tables. This changes the manner in which students learn. It is less rigid than earlier styles of learning. Students learn more positively. Polluck, an educator with over 35 years of experience, supports this change in classroom equipment. She remarks that contemporary classroom furnishings bear resemblance to the tv trays that were common in the 1950s, though these do not feature the (then) ground breaking tv dinners.
Today’s students benefit from the use of single tables. This has ties to the ever present backpack. This is a major reason why old style desks are giving way to the more contemporary student tables. Students learn more during their interactions versus working as solo individuals. Tables can be pushed together and easily form study groups.
Pollock offers another reason for the popularity of these desks with classroom teachers. Teachers enjoy these new tables because they lack surfaces for students to hide chewing gum or to pass notes. These have long been nuisances for the classroom. More students carry backpacks and this provides a great place to store textbooks. Books no longer take up real estate in desks. Now students no longer have need for cavernous storage space of traditional desks. Though this now means students have to invent new reasons for leaving homework in their desks.
Contemporary classrooms no longer feature neat rows of desks where students remain seated for an entire school day. Teachers no longer have to constantly maintain the neat rows that were once the hallmark of a school classroom. As desks have given way to tables and chairs, teachers have also relaxed their teaching styles. Students are free to move about and interact with fellow students. This can foster creativity and learning allowing for a better learning environment. This is more conducive to socialization and knowledge retention and can boost student morale. They no longer are assigned to a rigid desk.
Jane Dabad writes about tips home organizing tips for you and your family. For more tips and advice, check out these helpful guides: Desk Fan Reviews and Tips for Finding the Best Children’s Desk.