Choice

The second pillar of flexible seating is choice. Anyone who understands the benefits of flexible seating knows that it empowers students. Our active learning classrooms provide students the opportunity to make choices within their environment. They also permit students the choice of where to work, and with whom. They provide opportunities to easily work individually, in pairs, in small groups, or as a whole class. Students may also choose to change their spots and positions when they need (with the teacher's discretion). All of these important decision-making moments provide students with good practice to help them learn how to make choices that are most beneficial for them. As Dr. Robert Marzono, a leading researcher in education, beautifully wrote in his blog: "Choice in the classroom has been linked to increases in student effort, task performance, and subsequent learning."