Class Furniture
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Approach:  Station
ACCESS
Level: Year 8
Focus: Product analysis/evaluating decisions  
Resources:
4 furniture pictures
520Kb
Questions/instructions:  

Some children are allowed to choose new furniture for their classroom.

1. What are some good things about the designs of the furniture?
2. What are some good things about the materials the furniture has been made from?
3. What are some not so good things about the designs of the furniture?
4. What are some not so good things about the materials the furniture is made from?

[Click on graphics to enlarge.]
 
% responses
2008 ('04)
y8
DESIGNS:
Good and not so good things:
storage
85
convenience/capacity/flexibility of storage
63
encouraging working together vs individually
57
chair attached to desk vs independent chair
23
adjustability of desk legs
55
arrangements for moving/picking up chairs
8
MATERIALS:
Good and not so good things :
strength (not likely to fail on a single occasion)
68
easy to keep clean
14
appropriate ends of legs (noise, damage to flooring)
4
durable materials (keep on working well, looking good)
24
5. Circle the number of the furniture you would choose?
 
1
21
2
13
3
54
4
2
no choice made
9
6. Explain why you would choose that furniture.
Strength of explanation:

strong
22
moderate
48
weak
30

Total score:
9–12
4
7–8
18
5–6
36
3–4
30
0–2
11
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 8
Commentary:
Year 8 students were moderately successful at describing the strengths and weaknesses of classroom furniture. Girls were more successful than boys at this task. It is interesting to note that just over half of the students chose the furniture that gives the greatest ease of access and effective storage (the second desk from the top, labelled choice 3).