As the modern worker spends more time in front of a screen and under dim and excessive lighting conditions, research evidence is indicating that eye strain and visual stress problems are also trending as a workplace issue. Getting ahead of this curve and offering workers solutions for reducing eye strain can do more than keep your team clear and focused – it also helps keep an eye on your bottom line.
The modern worker cares about their workspace – key perks might include open plan designs and unconventional breakout spots, or consciously syncing it with a healthy lifestyle. They want to work for companies that care more than just staying competitive in their industry – they want to work for companies that also care about keeping their workers healthy and productive.
When it comes to designing for higher education learning environments, a well-executed colour palette can enhance the absorption of information & facilitate the thinking process. The right colour, correct selection, and proper placement can all play a significant role in the feelings, attention, and behaviour of learning environments – as well as its in-between places.
As our population grows larger and larger as well as younger and younger, classrooms are evolving from an assembly line of rows and columns of chairs to a dynamic student-centered classroom. Modern classrooms now approach education differently with inclusive learning environments that reflect how teachers teach and how students learn. Due to increasing classroom sizes, teachers rely on technology and flexible classroom environments more than ever. It fosters collaboration and critical thinking skills plus meets the diverse needs of the modern student.
The workforce is changing hands, and a new generation of digital learners and workers are informing how modern offices reflect the individual identity and company culture. Workspaces that promote strong mental health can have a strategic impact on success. Happy workers equal productive workers. And productive workers thrive in environments that encourage collaboration and creativity – adding up to a positive effect on your bottom line.
Today’s learners are a sophisticated bunch – brought up on a diet of handheld technology, brand marketing, and the sleekest product design. Experience-driven, they have high expectations when it comes to the environments they inhabit. If even a part of an educator’s task is to prepare them for the world, then the classroom has to meet and reflect real-world expectations. Rows of desks, learning by rote, one-size-fits all teaching methods are a hangover from the industrial revolution.
Because today’s young learners are a generation unlike any before them, classroom design has a massive impact on both engagement and performance. Because, as research shows, education isn’t just about technology or pedagogy, it’s also about environment.
In fact, research increasingly shows the impact classroom design has on student success: 25%, positive or negative depending on the environment, on annual academic progress. And Dr. Sheryl Reinisch, the Dean of Concordia University-Portland’s College of Education says that well designed classrooms can “ “help children feel safe, secure, and valued. As a result, self-esteem increases, and students are motivated to engage in the learning process.”
It’s no wonder then, why educators are seeking out ways to create more collaborative classrooms. Because what better way to empower our children than by teaching them the skills they’ll need to contribute and thrive once they exit the school system and enter the workforce?
Of course, quality, price, and durability are essential in the decision-making process, but what about the implications each piece of furniture has on a child’s learning?
While traditional teaching consisted of the “stand and teach/sit still and listen” format, today’s teachers understand this isn’t ideal. Instead, educators must work harder to engage students in active learning, knowing that people learn best by doing.