Thanks for the very interesting selection from the Gallego & Cole book.
Some additional thoughts:
R.S. Adams & B.J, Biddle, Realities of Teaching: Explorations with
videotape, (Holt, Rinehart, Winston, 1970), has some interesting chapters
on classroom communication patterns and classroom architecture - allocation
of roles, frequencies of who talks to whom and when, related to seating
patterns and classroom design.
Also: In many New Zealand elementary school classrooms, the open-classroom
movement of the 1970s has had a residual effect on the architecture and
furnishing of classrooms. Most that I have worked in recently have larger
open spaces with mats for sitting on the floor, old sofas and other
informal furniture for book corners, etc. Was the open classroom movement
in the US widespread? did it leave any residual effects on architecture and
seating?
Also: I read of classrooms being redesigned by those committed to learning
styles so that students can lie on the floor, listen to soft music, etc.
There was a posting about 2 years ago on this site about such a classroom.
Graham
Graham Nuthall
Professor of Education
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
Phone 64 3 3642255 Fax 64 3 3642418
http://www.educ.canterbury.ac.nz/learning.html