Almost everyone seems to have an opinion on how students should be seated. The arrangement of desks in classrooms has been associated with different attitudes towards education. Many consider desks in rows to be a sign of the old school, ‘teacher knowledge dump’ approach and grouped desks to be a sign of enlightened, student-led inquiry-based approaches. I do not see it this way and I will explain why.
Being able to see the front
As a teacher, I have never found a way to have students comfortably see the front of the classroom while in grouped desks. Students are often required to face the front of the class, see the board, see media and so on. It is simply easier for them to do this when they are faced towards the front already. For a task like handwriting, for example, where the students need to carefully follow my instructions which are shown on the board, any student not facing the board is clearly disadvantaged.
It is easier for the teacher to see what is going on with rows
From my desk at the front of the class, I am easily able to see students; faces and what they are working on. From the back of the class, it is easy for me to see their screens if they are working on their devices.
Fewer distractions for students
With fewer students around, there are fewer opportunities for students to distract each other. Here I am talking about times when students are not supposed to be talking to each other.
But what about group work?
There is nothing that prevents group work when there are rows. Students can easily move their chairs to surround a desk. Students can also work with whoever is next to them in pairs. I often have students work on the floor, away from desks, to make space for group work.
The shape of your classroom matters
Not all classrooms have the size to accommodate grouped desks. Often we have to work with what we get and if there isn’t much room, rows tend to make more sense.
Ask your students!
Your students are the ones who have to sit in these configurations so consider asking them what they want. You might be surprised. I have found my students really like sitting in rows for many of the reasons I have mentioned.
