Class arrangement refers to a layout of the physical setup of chairs, tables, materials in a school classroom. In most countries, this arrangement is often chosen by a paid, professional teacher with the assistance of a seating chart. Deciding upon a classroom arrangement is typically done at the beginning of a school year as a part of classroom management.
Arrangement patterns
editClassroom arrangements can follow different patterns[1] such as:
- Rows or Traditional (students facing the instructor)
- Stadium Seating (or Angled Rows with Desks Touching)
- Modified U (or Horseshoe)
- Groups (or Pods, Teams)
- Combination (desks in various positions)
- Roundtable (students and instructors facing the center)
Effects
editClass arrangement is thought to affect the student engagement, focus and participation.[2] Some research suggests that seating location is related to academic achievement and classroom participation, and class arrangement has the ability to affect the communal environment within the room. [3] For individual tasks class arrangement in rows can increase on task focus, especially for disruptive students.[4]
History
editAround the turn of the 20th century, new education mandates and laws banning child labor rapidly increase school enrollments, standardizing facility design.[5] Traditional classroom layouts had students facing the instructor with their backs toward each other. The modern and flexible open space classroom represents a change from traditional chair desk combos.
References
edit- ^ "Classroom Seating Arrangements | Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning". poorvucenter.yale.edu. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
- ^ McCorskey, James C.; McVetta, Rod W. (1978-03-01). "Classroom seating arrangements: Instructional communication theory versus student preferences". Communication Education. 27 (2): 99–111. doi:10.1080/03634527809378281. ISSN 0363-4523.
- ^ M. K. Nambiar, Radha; Mohd Noor, Noorizah; Ismail, Kemboja (2018-03-01). "The Impact of New Learning Spaces on Teacher Pedagogy and Student Learning Behavior". INTED2018 Proceedings. Vol. 1. pp. 8132–8135. doi:10.21125/inted.2018.1969. ISBN 978-84-697-9480-7.
- ^ Wannarka, Rachel; Ruhl, Kathy (2008). "Seating arrangements that promote positive academic and behavioural outcomes: A review of empirical research". Support for Learning. 23 (2): 89–93. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9604.2008.00375.x.
- ^ "School design through the decades". School design through the decades. Retrieved 2020-08-15.