Dive Brief:
- A handful of recent studies have identified benefits for student insulin levels, engagement and neurocognitive function after using standing desks or generally sitting less in class.
- Reducing sitting time in class can translate to a 15% drop in insulin levels, and standing desks contribute to higher engagement among 12% of students as well as an increase in neurocognitive function from 7% to 14% after continued use for 27 weeks, according to a new infographic from EdTech: Focus on K-12.
- Learning rates for 16% of students have been found to be affected by school design, and one-third of administrators now support individualized education plans for all students to improve college and career readiness.
Dive Insight:
Personalized learning doesn’t stop with content or ed tech devices in the classroom. The design of the classroom itself contributes to personalization. Some students learn better sitting in certain positions or grouped in certain ways. Teachers who pay attention and respond to this can offer more tailored instruction.
Some teachers directly ask students how they prefer to learn. Using surveys early in the school year, these educators can plan lessons and seating arrangements based on student responses. Many schools have refurbished individual classrooms based on the assumption that students will not all want the same thing, creating learning spaces with moveable desks and chairs and a variety of seating styles.