Teachers' efforts to manage classroom social dynamics can have positive effects on students' social relationships. One way that teachers may seek to manage these relationships is through seating arrangements. In a randomized control trial, van den Berg, Segers, and Cillessen (2012) found that closer proximity in the classroom can reduce disliking…

This paper presents the conclusions of a study, carried out in collaboration with schools in six European countries, which focused on tomorrow's physical learning environments. The study, which stemmed from a project entitled Forum for the Future and which was funded by the Finnish National Board of Education (FNBE), was designed to contribute to…

This school has been made to answer, as far as possible, the specific demands of a non-traditional teaching system. Each classroom is considered and equipped as a complete unit, a house in itself. (CK)

There has been little analysis of how the "L" Shape design pattern might influence learning as well as be incorporated into the design of new school facilities. This article: (1) re-examines the "Fat L" (Dyck, 1994) Classroom as a design pattern which supports a range of activity settings; (2) defines activity settings; (3)…

The experience of designing and making installations of school furniture in collaboration with three countries--Norway, Portugal, and Spain--and of performing additional work in France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom provides the basis for this report. The ages of the pupils in the schools concerned ranged from 3 to 13 years. A theme of…

Discusses the Netherland's approach to help students meet the basic competency requirements of employers and tertiary institutions. The new pedagogical approach, called Study House, integrates a nontraditional curriculum delivery that fosters students working in teams and setting their own tasks with an innovative classroom design. (GR)

Articles contained in this first issue of the journal "Child Resource World Review" present information from a worldwide network of day care professionals. Specifically, Alice Honig compares child care in different countries. Sherrie K. Akinsanya reports on stressful aspects of early schooling for children in Nigeria. Sue Owen discusses…

The purpose of the study was to (a) determine the design features of the physical learning environment that support collaborative, project-based learning, and (b) to gain an understanding of the rationale for the selection of the features. The literature review indicated a need for changing learning expectations to prepare learners for rapidly…