In this article I explore how certain pedagogic practices construct students' ability as visible. The concept of ability is viewed as constructed, put into place by specific educational practices, rather than a fixed trait of the students. Conducted in two primary classrooms, this study employs observational methods complemented by audio-video…

This article, based on Basil Bernstein's theoretical framework, aims to contribute to the sociological analysis of the impact of space on the formation of the pedagogical practices of the teachers who teach Arts in Primary education. Data were collected using the research methods of observation and interview on a sample of 20 Art teachers in…

This paper is based on an argument that the disruption of school spaces can demerit the myth that Mathematics is difficult and a struggle for learners in some contexts. Combining spatial theories and the phenomenon of disruption, the paper reports from a qualitative research project that analyzed the dynamics of space and place in South African…

This article seeks to examine the neglected sociomateriality of the classroom and investigates how space, matter and human actors are entangled, interact and take part in the 'space-producing action'. Rather than approaching the classroom as an objective collection of physical units or a stable grid, we see it as something alive, a performance…

An historical commitment to child-centred pedagogy notwithstanding, classrooms for an increasing diversity of young people are constituted by their constrained affordances for learning; a single teacher, configurations of tables and chairs, and digital resources. The remit of teaching in such confines perpetuates passivity, a one size fits all…

Learning to question power relationships, symbols of power, and how power is used and negotiated in children's literature through critical dialogue can support young readers to move toward a social justice mindset. The authors of this article share critical strategies and analytic tools to support teachers and readers to analyze types of power,…

This paper maps a teacher's pedagogic practices when teaching young children to produce texts using digital technologies during a literacy lesson for 7-8 year-old children. Pedagogies are broadly understood as what the teacher does in a classroom to facilitate learning in a twenty-first century classroom. The paper argues that the very notion of…

This article presents findings from a case study of a public primary school in China regarding the mutually constitutive relationship between classroom space and collaborative learning. The research employed qualitative coding methods to interpret the meanings of 17 teachers' interview transcripts. The findings reveal that although collaborative…

Beanbags, adjustable tables, retractable walls, high-speed internet and numerous digital devices dominate the current concept of the modern classroom. Urged by the Ministry of Education in New Zealand to build all new classrooms as Innovative Learning Environments (ILEs) (Ministry of Education, 2015), more and more students are finding themselves…

A recent shift in the design of school buildings in Iceland is apparent, from a conventional classroom setting to a more open and flexible learning environment. The aim of the project related here is to take a close look at this development by identifying significant design features and how they have changed over time to reflect educational policy…

This article is concerned with the influences that are brought to bear on the design of school buildings and the effects that the design of these buildings have on those who teach and learn in them. The article also focuses on the ways in which design is altered in and through the practices of these occupants. We argue that there is a mutual…

Finnish education has recently experienced reforms with respect to guidelines forming the curriculum framework for basic education and school architecture. Since 2016, all new schools incorporate open and flexible design, at least to some extent. The more open school design challenges the conventional organisation of space and pre-defined…

Despite growing interest in redesigning the material landscape of education, relatively little is known about the impact of these evolving classrooms. This study aimed to gain insight into the physical learning environment and the potential pedagogical impacts thereof. A "biographical approach" (c. 1963-2015) was used to explore the…

Background: While studies of teaching frequently preserve an interest in teacher-pupil encounters that take place in certain spots, this article shows how teachers' can be understood as "in-path" instructors, which is significant for student-based learning. This complements studies that have mainly focused on teachers instructional work…

Despite the uncertainty in the rapidly changing world, many countries expect their educational institutions to be ready for the future. To meet these expectations, educational policymakers bring in new changes. One of these transformational changes is the "Future Classroom Lab (FCL)," coordinated by the European Schoolnet with 15…