The verbal behavior of the teachers of two London Primary School open classrooms was characterized. Four categories of verbal behavior were found and 19 percent of all teacher utterances could be classified as potentially reinforcing to students. (SDH)

In order to determine if -- assuming that the teacher's role as an authority figure is different in the open classroom than in the traditional classroom -- classroom arrangement affects students' attitudes toward governmental authority figures, a questionnaire was administered to public elementary school children from a suburban school in a large…

This publication discusses how the open-space school can facilitate the development and utilization of science learning units. The following three concepts are presented to establish a basis for this discussion: (1) the open classroom, (2) the open-space school, and (3) the learning center. An attempt is made to convey an operational definition of…

The purpose of this study was to discover if there were differences in student attitude and achievement toward and in the subject matter between students taught in an open space and in a closed space. Two classes in U.S. history taught in 11th grade were compared. The same instructor taught both classes using identical methods, procedures, and…

The purpose of this project was to re-educate veteran teachers to understand and conceptualize child-centered, informal education as preparation for a new, open-architecture setting. The first phase of the project consisted of a needs assessment; the second, of three training days for teachers. Training covered interpersonal relations skills,…

This is a report on a research project currently under way. The purpose of the research is to compare some central aspects of goal fulfilment of the 1969 curriculum in two schools of differing organizational and architectural design in the Malmo region, to carry out a detailed analysis of activities in an open plan school, and to develop…

After the speaker, an elementary school principal, presents examples of what makes his school "humanistic"--open plan, emphasis on student choice, flexibility in learning/teaching styles--he presents some of the ways in which accountability is measured. Specifically, he discusses management by objectives and planning, programming,…

This document has four parts. Part 1 defines free universities, describes the origins of the free universities of the 70's, breaks down current free universities into three kinds, and ends with a chapter on teacher-learning processes. Part 2 contains quantitative information - numbers, age, location, enrollments, and funding. Part 3 lists what…

The purpose of this study was to compare aspects of educational environments in elementary schools which differed in the degree to which programs were individualized flexible, and diverse; and architectures were open. Fifteen classes were assigned to the cells of a factorial design, and data on educational environments were collected from teachers…

The theme of this issue is media services in open education schools. Several articles discuss media services, media specialists, open schools, teachers, school children, and all their interrelationships. The challenges and problems of open school media services are considered. In the section on environmental considerations the views of architects…

The project attempted to discern the possible resulting effects on children and teachers from major structural changes in the design of classroom space. Three assumptions were tested: (1) children will assume greater initiative in resource use, (2) teachers get to know the children better, and (3) team teaching in open space classrooms contributes…

Two open plan elementary schools were chosen together with the two traditional schools that most matched in size, location, and socioeconomic backgrounds of pupils; and standardized tests of curiosity and creativity were administered to students in grades 2 and 5. The results of the analyses show that some differences exist on a few of the tests…

Traditional-classical programs, individualized instruction, differentiated staffing, flexible-modular scheduling are all programs and ideas much discussed in the field of education today. However, science instruction is still in the logarithmic phase of change. Curricular and instructional styles alter so rapidly that often reference points are…

This survey audits both current and former open plan school teachers, most of whom support the use of this concept for the majority of pupils. There are some reservations, and changes in teacher training, facilities, and procedures are recommended. (DLG)

A determination was made of whether any change occurred in the self-concept of children in the open space environment as compared to the change of self-concept of children in a self-contained environment. A total of 216 children, part from an open space environment school and the others from self-contained classrooms at grade levels with one…