Writing about educational products has helped me-for better or worse-to relive my early school days. After last week's Classroom Furniture by Simon Dennehy took me back to fifth grade, this week's 3-2-1 Desk by Smith System transports me to the glory days of ages six through eight.

3-2-1 Desk. Manufactured by Smith System.

The 3-2-1 Desk Enhances Collaborative Learning

Not that anyone really has a reliable memory for such a time, but my recollection from those days is of a clunky, metal, melamine-topped affair-the kind of desk that would require an unusual degree of skill and cooperation just to move across the room, from both students and teachers.

To the contrary, 3-2-1 is movable and modular. Constructed of high-density particle board with a high-pressure laminated surface, 3-2-1 is extremely durable while mobile enough to be manipulated by teachers and students. The desk is designed to nest in pairs or threesomes, so students may work in close collaboration with groups of different sizes: "The shape allows the 3-2-1 Desk to be arranged to fit the day’s lesson plan. For a lecture or testing, 3-2-1 Desks can be lined up in rows; for group work, the tables can be arranged in partial and full circles."

3-2-1 has the additional perk of aesthetic variety and unbridled style. Options include Fusion Maple/Champagne, Golden Oak/Black, Gray Nebula/Blueberry, and Wild Cherry/Black.

About the Manufacturer: Manufacturer Smith System has been in the business of improving educational environments for over 100 years. In that time, they've seen and heard enough to "learn a thing or two." One can find the fruition of the company's insights among Smith System's impressive product portfolio, wherein offerings like the Intuit Chair and the Huddle Desk show how Smith System provides "timely, innovative solutions for educators and students."