Gen Z is already famous for doing things differently. At school, empathy is popular. As they enter the workforce, they put a higher emphasis on people than profits. They form tighter and more diverse communities than ever before, primarily because their generation is the most diverse than previous ones. Workplaces and schools should also emphasize diversity, equity, and inclusion in order to appeal to Gen Z. In the wake of a global pandemic and the reality of school shootings, Gen Z is very focused on their physical and mental wellbeing. Enter Akt: a family of furniture designed in response to these needs and takes into account Gen Z’s call to action. The Akt collection was created to facilitate change, support diverse communities, and can be configured to build collaborative workspaces where Gen Z feels mentally and physically safe.  

Generation Z is emerging from a pandemic that occurred during their most formative years. Many Gen Z students were unable to attend their high school or college graduations, forced into remote education at a time when their learning journey was most essential. The result is a mixture of physical and mental health awareness, an emphasis on community, and a generation that deeply cares about the future of our world. Our Akt line of tables, chairs, and soft seating was designed intentionally to support these priorities. Gen Z expects sanitation and cleanliness post pandemic, so with this in mind, our soft seating was designed with added spacers on the seats and raised legs to make it all easy to clean. They prioritize collaboration and flexibility, which is why Akt tables were made in multiple heights with broad spaces and are easy to move. The chairs stack to easily configure and reconfigure a space with the speed that Gen Zers are used to. Whether in the classroom, the workspace, or beyond, the Akt line was designed to create active, kinetic, and tectonic spaces where Gen Z is encouraged to thrive. 

Students have had to undergo a seemingly endless string of stressful events over the last few years. Between an increase in school violence and a global pandemic that resulted in learning loss and cancelled social gatherings, students are under a lot of pressure to make up for lost time. That catch-up feeling has created a lot of anxiety, inequity, and isolation, so it is more important now than ever for students to know that they are not going through this alone. Prioritizing social-emotional learning and mental health as students go back to school is vital in shaping a more empathetic, inclusive, and safe classroom environment. MooreCo can help build a classroom environment that’s unique to your school and makes use of welcoming design aspects.  

How to Bridge the Generational Gap Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers

Classrooms have always been multigenerational, whether it’s an elementary school with a generational gap between the students and their teacher, or a college course that pulls in students across the generational spectrum. The way we learn varies from person to person, not to mention generation to generation, so the way we approach classroom design needs to accommodate these different education styles. 

Incorporating flexible seating within classroom design is more important than ever. Today’s generation of students has a shorter attention span and craves variety. They want to walk into a classroom that grabs their attention and meets multiple needs, so they can focus on achieving academic excellence.  

Flexible seating requires movement, since rocking and motion is known to facilitate concentration and better cognitive processing. According to Lakeside Educational Network CEO/President Gerry Vassar, “Rocking helps students who are experiencing a brain state of high arousal (hypervigilance) to be able to transition to a much more calm brain state to enhance his/her ability to learn and problem-solve.” Students who have a hard time focusing will do well when they are free to move.  

We know a few ways to bring flexible seating into the classroom to ensure students of all ages are ready to learn.  

How Can We Prioritize Mental Health in Gen Z Classrooms?

At the tail-end of a two-year-long global pandemic, students are under more stress than ever before. The pandemic alone has massively affected their mental health as students make the switch to remote learning and continue schoolwork under these conditions. Not only were they forced to consider their futures while they were simultaneously unsure what the future held, but students also identified other global issues that had an impact on their mental health in the latest APA Stress in America Survey. Students today are stressed over issues like discrimination and harassment, the separation and deportation of migrant and immigrant families, mass shootings, political climate, hunger or food insecurities, work, and money, to name a few.  

How to Distribute ESSER Funds to Combat Learning Loss in Your School

MooreCo is piloting the conversation around how to best serve students in a post-pandemic world. Curating the classroom into a multifaceted learning environment is just one of many ways to adapt to the future of education. Think interactive displays, wall-to-wall whiteboards, ergonomic seating, and standing desks. Whatever your students need to catch up on their learning, MooreCo’s wide range of products are designed to keep academic focus at the forefront. 

8 Ways to Stay Mighty

MooreCo has been committed to providing environments where people can thrive for over 3 decades. But what does it mean to thrive? Once all of our survival needs are met (safety, food, shelter, water), we can focus on the higher range of needs. Hierarchy by MooreCo was inspired by Mazlow's Hierarchy of Needs. We imagined a world where students were not only stimulated, but supported, encouraged, and set up to succeed in all their learning endeavors.