Seating arrangements in classrooms are more than just a layout of desks and chairs. Where students sit affects their learning, friendships and interactions. Teachers aim to organize seating charts to improve academic performance and teamwork.
One of the most common topics discussed in education is whether or not students who sit in the front perform better than those in the back. Many studies have shown that students who sit in the front have more frequent interactions with teachers, sense more accountability and are less likely to get distracted by peers or electronics.
However, academic performance is not only based on how far a student is from the teacher. Learning styles, pressure and motivation also play a huge role. Some students may be more successful sitting in the back compared to the front of the classroom.
Some students who sit in the back feel less pressure and are therefore more focused. “I feel like sitting in the front gives me more pressure because I feel like everyone is watching,” junior Harjeevan Singh explained. “Sitting in the back gives me freedom to watch the teacher and everyone else’s mistakes to make sure I don’t make the same ones.”
Seating arrangements also have an impact not only on friendships within classrooms, but they help students collaborate with each other. Students who sit closer together are more likely to form connections, unite and be in contact. By sitting together, students are able to discuss topics outside of school and work together.
The group environment fosters stronger connections and a chance for students to help each other. “I tend to learn better when teachers assign us into pods because I am more involved in the class,” senior Finn McMillan said. “I hate being in rows or columns because I can’t ask my peers questions when I don’t understand what’s being taught.”
Particular seating arrangements are more beneficial for teamwork and partnerships. For example, teachers who put students in pods, clusters or pairs motivate students to interact and work together. Students who are placed into small groups are more likely to share ideas, talk about concepts and solve problems together as opposed to students isolated in rows or columns.
Teachers who arrange desks into pods or groups have a passion for motivating students to learn and help each other. “I value groups because, with a subject like physics, it is helpful to work easily with others. That is tougher to do when in rows, the logistics sometimes don’t work out,” teacher Joshua Hoffman explained. “Working in a team is a life-skill and something many professions will ask of you. So I feel I am helping build that skill.”
On the other hand, rows and columns are made for individual work or individual mastery. Even though this type of arrangement can reduce distractions, students don’t have the opportunity to help each other when struggling.
The arrangement of desks and chairs in a classroom might seem like an insignificant detail, but it has a huge impact on student learning, interactions, friendships and collaboration. Sitting in the front may increase academic performance for some students, while others would rather be in the back. Ultimately, teachers need to take into account student preferences because the most successful seating arrangement depends on the student’s learning style.