| According to the Center for Research on Learning | | | | arrangement. This arrangement allows all students |
| and Teaching (CRLT) at the University of | | | | to see the teacher and the other students easily |
| Michigan, there are seven distinct and possible | | | | without turning more than a quarter turn. The |
| seating arrangements to consider when arranging | | | | instructor can actually stand closer to all |
| a room. When deciding which seating arrangement | | | | students-something that traditional rows sacrifices |
| is best for your purposes, it is important to | | | | for students in the back. The drawback is that it |
| consider two points. First, the instructor should be | | | | won't work for large classrooms and doesn't |
| easily visible to the students at all times. Eliminate | | | | maximize room space to the fullest. |
| any need for students to turn away from their | | | | Fifth, is the circular table arrangement. Computers |
| desktops in order to visually follow a teacher or | | | | around the edge of the room facing the walls, |
| professor. While that seems like a no-brainer, | | | | with round tables in the middle of the room. This |
| teachers often forget this during the course of | | | | separates the group work done in the "group" |
| teaching and even when class participation is | | | | environment from the independent work done at |
| strong, students often find themselves having to | | | | the computer. Some prefer this arrangement, as |
| twist around in their seats to pay attention to | | | | it keeps students engaged during lecture time. |
| what another student is saying, or to follow a | | | | Sixth, peninsulas. These are rows of workspaces |
| teacher that is moving about the room. Second, | | | | facing one another and jutting from the wall |
| keep in mind what the purpose of the class is. A | | | | opposite the instructor's station. It allows students |
| computer class should obviously be situated | | | | to see the instructor fairly clearly and also allows |
| differently than an art class, etc. | | | | for more computer desks to be added in a single |
| As for the seven seating arrangements, the first | | | | classroom. |
| is traditional rows. This arrangement is still used in | | | | Seventh, are L-shaped clusters. This arrangement |
| many situations as it gives instructors the | | | | allows for the benefit of clusters, but provides for |
| opportunity to walk around easily and check on | | | | better visual connection to the front of the |
| student progress, but in most cases, it visually | | | | classroom for all students. |
| impairs the students. | | | | Regardless of which arrangement you go with, it's |
| Second, clusters. These arrangement works well | | | | also important to maximize the use of desks. |
| for small groups, but like tables in a banquet hall, | | | | Different types of desks-other than traditional |
| there will always be the need for one or more | | | | computer desks-are now very popular. For |
| students to have to turn completely in his/her | | | | example, we found well-designed desks such as |
| chair to follow an instructor or listen to a speaker. | | | | the Downview Desk which allows for a computer |
| Third, specifically for computer desks, tables | | | | screen to be mounted under the desktop as to |
| around the edge of the room facing the walls is | | | | prevent obstruction of the student's view of the |
| one type of arrangement. Again, students must | | | | teacher. We also found multi-user tables to be |
| turn to hear a speaker, but if most of the class | | | | comfortable and space-saving. Check out all of |
| work is done independently, this can create a nice | | | | these options before deciding which arrangement |
| space-saving environment with few distractions. | | | | is best for your classroom. |
| Fourth, and very popular, the horseshoe | | | | |