A World Tour of Classroom Design

Around the world, classrooms vary in all shapes and sizes. But no matter what the primary classroom furniture or high school classroom furniture looks like, skilled educators are making the most of their resources to deliver the best lessons they can to their classes. We take a look at some different ways that education happens around the world, and might pick up some ideas for our own classroom practice at home.

Singapore is a country well known for its exceptional schooling system, but its classrooms look just as typical as one might expect from a learning space. Most classrooms feature the familiar rows of individual desks, where students are learning from textbooks and lectures. The difference which sets Singapore apart is the curriculum design, which is rigorous in the high standards it sets students. Schools often teach to the test, but the test is designed to challenge students to improve and deepen their knowledge in a “Teach Less, Learn More” philosophy. This meritocracy-based education system is also used in South Korea and Japan, whose schools apply the same methodical approach to learning and examination.

This approach is contrasted by the schooling system of Finland, whose students are equally successful, but achieve this result through self-guided and self-motivated learning. Classrooms in Finland rarely look like traditional classrooms: their primary classroom furniture and high school classroom furniture are all versatile and adaptable. Tables and chairs can be easily moved around to support groupwork or solitary learning, and classes are largely student driven with the teacher acting as a mentor. This places a great responsibility on students to determine their own interests, but with the greater emphasis on solving open-ended problems, Finland’s schools are well-preparing learners for a new, technologically driven world. 

In Africa, many countries are still developing or recovering from civil unrest, but that doesn’t mean their schools are any less rigorous. Recent changes to make schooling free and compulsory in countries like Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya have ensured that more students than ever are receiving an education. This influx has temporarily placed a strain on the schooling system, which occasionally sees shortages of teaching staff, classroom space or classroom furniture. But ultimately, these reforms have seen positive results, and the children who strive to achieve a good education today will surely become the great teachers and leaders of tomorrow.

Through all these examples of classrooms around the world, we see that teaching and learning can adapt well to any context. All it takes is a motivated teacher and a group of students for high-quality learning to happen.