The present educational design research involved analysing Finnish upper secondary school students' participation in the improvement of their psychosocial and technology-enhanced physical learning environment (LE). It examined which LE characteristics students considered important when redesigning their LE, and whether they felt that their ideas…

Teachers are not always aware of how the classroom design influences teaching, particularly in many family and consumer sciences (FCS) classes that require studio space, such as apparel and interior design classes. The purpose of this paper is to introduce strategies to assess studio spaces that are designed for enhancement of student learning.…

Quality design and appropriate space organization in preschool settings can support preschool children's educational activities. Although the relationship between the well-being and development of children and physical settings has been emphasized by many early childhood researchers, there is still a need for theoretical design guidelines that are…

This article explores how to adopt a gender perspective in the analysis of educational facilities. It argues that social relations are influenced by the physical environment, and that social and physical aspects are often interlinked. Although difficult to measure, including a gender perspective in international research and other projects on…

This paper discusses environmental preference, particularly related to the design of children's museums. It explains that preference for an environment leads to motivation to interact with the environment, which leads to learning. It lays out several design principles: (1) involve children in the process of children's museum design in a way that…

This paper asserts that, despite rhetoric of added value, facilities management suffers a dearth of objectively researched, publicly available information concerning the impact of facilities on businesses at the level of market sectors or individual organizations. The paper aims to correct that situation for United Kingdom higher education…

In order to understand the dynamic influences of the physical environment on seating behavior, a longitudinal study was made of seating choices in the reading area of a university library. Based on analysis, a predictive model was outlined that extrapolates observed behavior in a space to new environmental settings. (BL)

The open stage is discussed both as architecture and as part of a new theatrical style. In reference to use of the open stage, emphasis is given to specifics with which the director must deal, to special problems of the actor, to the approach to blocking a play, and to the open stage as "theatrical experience". The architectural advantage of the…

Examined preferences for physical design characteristics of group living facilities of 229 congregate apartment residents, 205 older community residents, and 44 experts. Found that older groups of subjects had similar physical design preferences, whereas experts preferred more physical features than did older adults. (Author/NB)

This book is intended as a resource for those who create, adapt, and cope with settings for young children. It focuses particularly on all-day child care settings. Part 1, "Understanding Children's Settings," explores the power of the environment, or the "landscape" of children's lives--the array of settings they inhabit--and analyzes the…

Four contributing authors discuss perspectives on current trends in library interior design. Articles include: "Trends in Library Furnishings: A Manufacturer's Perspective" (Andrea Johnson); "Libraries, Architecture, and Light: The Architect's Perspective" (Rick McCarthy); "The Library Administrator's Perspective" (Chadwick Raymond); and "The…

This publication's purpose is to provide assistance in the planning of industrial arts facilities through suggestions and guidelines for functional space utilization and meaningful educational specifications. It is one of a series on specialized areas of the school plant. Chapter headings include "Educational Trends and the Emerging Industrial…

This book describes a project on designing spaces for young children; the aim of the project is to enable a "meeting of minds" between the pedagogical philosophy of Reggio Emilia preschools and the innovative experiences within the culture of design and architecture. The book presents the project in three main sections: (1) a critical analysis of…

THE PRESENT STATE OF DESIGN ON THE PRIMARY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT IS REPRESENTED IN A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS AND PAPERS. THE REPORT GENERALIZES ABOUT QUALITATIVE FEATURES OF SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AND SOME OF THEIR CONSEQUENCES FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH GROUP'S OBSERVATIONS, IN THE COURSE OF WHICH SOME SYSTEMATIC…

Architects, group home administrators, people with mental retardation, family members of people with mental retardation, and college undergraduates substantially agreed in rating the homelikeness of 20 community residences for people with mental retardation. Clusters of physical features identified using an architectural inventory were found to be…