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