Planning Spaces For Learning

"Great classroom setups can maximize student learning and minimize behavior problems. What's your secret to the art of arranging"

Learning Environments Home
Classroom space should respect the inhabitants of the space and support the activities that you plan. Inside the classroom, a positive environment should be created for the students. There are two basic ways of organizing space: personal territories and interest areas.

Personal Territories
The action zone where participation is the greatest may be in any area in the room. Teachers should move around the room when possible, vary the seating arrangement, establish eye contact with and direct questions to students seated far away.

Seating Arrangements
Horizontal rows are useful for independent seatwork , and teacher, student, and media presentations. This arrangement also permits students to easily work in pairs. This is a poor arrangement for large group discussions.

Clusters and Circle Arrangements
These are the best arragements for student interaction. A circle arrangement allows for independent work and is especially useful for discussion. Clusters allow students to talk, help each other, share materials, and work on group tasks. However, both of these arrangements are poor for whole-group presentations and may make class management more difficult.
Fishbowl or Stack Special Formation
This is where students sit close together near the focus of attention. They should only be used for short periods of time because they are uncomfortable and can lead to discipline problems.
the fishbowl can create a feeling of group cohesion. This arrangement is also useful for teacher demonstrations, to see a small visual aid and for class brainstorming sessions.



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Interest Areas
Changes in interest areas can help teachers meet their objectives. Interest areas and personal areas are not mutually exclusive. Ther are designs that combine these types of organization. Keep the f\ollowing guidelines in mind when you design interest areas for your classroom.
GUIDELINES FOR DESIGNING LEARNING SPACES
Note the fixed features and plan accordingly.

EXAMPLES
1. Remember that the audiovisual center and computers need an electrical outlet.
2. Keep art supplies near the sink, small-group work by a blackboard or whiteboard.

Create easy access to materials amd a well-organized places to store them.
EXAMPLES
1. Make sure materials are easy to reach and visable to students.
2. Have enough shelves so that mateials do not have to be stacked.

Provide students with clean, convenient surfaces for studying.
EXAMPLES
1. Put bookshelves next to the reading area, games by the game table.
2. Prevent fights by avoiding crowded work spaces.

Avoid dead spaces and "racetracks".
EXAMPLES
1. Do not have all of the interest areas around the the outside of the room, leaving a large dead space in the middle.
2. Avoid placing a feww items of furniture right in themiddle of this large space, creating a racetrack around the furniture.

from Educational Psychology,Woolfolk, A.

For more ideas on classroom dsign, see http;//www.edfcilities.org/rl/classroom_design.cfm