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Cover Story
Ergonomics might be the engineering discipline that explores the
physical relationship between the human body and the environment it
operates in, but it entails more than paying attention to poor posture
and creaky joints. Holistically, ergonomics is the science of work and
learning environments - to remove barriers to quality, creativity and
productivity and performance. Though furniture design and learner
posture is an element of ergonomics, it isn't the only consideration
that a modern institution must consider while designing the learning
environment.
A large aspect of ergonomics is the ability to design a learning environment around a pedagogical philosophy. According to Dubai-based furniture provider OFIS, it is this synthesis of education principles with design considerations that gives real gains in education.
“On the whole, classroom design and equipment in the region has been mostly governed by a budget-driven viewpoint. Classroom design has been mostly static with the instructor at the front, facing the rank and file of learners,” says Ajay Deyal, CEO, OFIS. “Design is treated almost as an afterthought, with buyers mostly concerned with fitting in a certain number of tables and chairs per room.”
