Class arrangement refers to a layout of the physical setup of chairs, tables, materials in a schoolclassroom. 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
Classroom 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
Class 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
Around 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.
^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. ISSN0363-4523.
