ERGONOMIC CHALLENGES IN HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOMS: IMPLICATIONS OF ADOLESCENT ANTHROPOMETRIC VARIABILITY FOR FURNITURE AND WINDOW SILL DESIGN

Abstract

Over the past decades, anthropometric changes among adolescents have raised important questions regarding the adequacy of existing educational environments. High school classrooms, often designed based on outdated anthropometric data, may no longer correspond to the physical characteristics of contemporary students. This mismatch can negatively affect posture, comfort, and overall learning performance. The present study investigates the relationship between adolescent anthropometric dimensions and the design of classroom furniture and window sill heights. The research focuses on identifying potential discrepancies between current anthropometric measurements of high school students and the standard dimensions commonly used in classroom design. Finally, the paper proposes ergonomic recommendations and discusses the need for adaptive and updated design standards in educational environments.