Abstract
This article develops a theoretical framework for studying how instructional space, teaching and learning are related in practice. It is argued that a school’s physical design can contribute to the quality of the learning environment, but several non-architectural factors also determine how well a given facility serves as a setting for teaching and learning. Supporting evidence for this argument is drawn from research on school climate and organisation, as well as from the author’s study of three open-plan high schools. Facilities design, educational practice, school culture, and student learning are found to be interrelated aspects of a school’s total learning environment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahrentzen, S., & Evans, G. W. (1984). Distraction, privacy, and classroom design. Environment and Behavior, 16, 437–454.
Aladjem, D. K., & Borman, K. M. (2006). An introduction to comprehensive school reform. In D. K. Aladjem & K. M. Borman (Eds.), Examining comprehensive school reform (pp. 1–9). Washington, DC: The Urban Institute Press.
Applebee, A. N., Adler, M., & Flihan, S. (2007). Interdisciplinary curricula in middle and high school classrooms: Case studies of approaches to curriculum and instruction. American Educational Research Journal, 44, 1002–1044.
Barker, R. G., & Gump, P. V. (1964). Big school, small school: High school size and student behaviour. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
Barron, J. S. B., Schwartz, D. L., Vye, N. J., Moore, A., Petrosino, A., Zech, L., et al. (1998). Doing with understanding: Lessons from research on problem- and project-based learning. The Journal of the Learning Sciences, 7, 271–311.
Bennet, N., Andreae, J., Hegarty, P., & Wade, B. (1980). Open plan schools: Teaching, curriculum, design. Berkshire, UK: NFER Publishing Company for the Schools Council.
Cotterell, J. L. (1984). Effects of school architectural design on student and teacher anxiety. Environment and Behavior, 16, 455–479.
Doppelt, Y. (2006). Teachers’ and pupils’ perceptions of science-technology learning environments. Learning Environments Research, 9, 163–178.
Earthman, G. I. (2004). Prioritization of 31 criteria for school building adequacy. Baltimore, MD: American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Maryland. Retrieved February 23, 2008, from http://www.schoolfunding.info/policy/facilities/ACLUfacilities_report1-04.pdf.
Elmore, R. F. (2004). School reform from the inside out: Policy, practice, and performance. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Publishing Group.
Fishbaugh, M. S. E. (1997). Models of collaboration. Cambridge, Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, Harvard Educational Press.
Fraser, B. J. (1998). Classroom environment instruments development: Validity and applications. Learning Environments Research, 1, 7–33.
Fullan, M. (2001). The new meaning of educational change (3rd ed.). New York: Teachers College Press.
Gamoran, A., Secada, W. G., & Marrett, C. B. (2000). The organizational context of teaching and learning: Changing theoretical perspectives. In M. T. Halliman (Ed.), Handbook of the sociology of education (pp. 37–63). New York: Springer.
Gislason, N. (2009a). Mapping school design: A qualitative study of the relationship between facilities design, curriculum delivery, and school climate. Journal of Environmental Education, 40(4), 17–33.
Gislason, N. (2009b). School design: History, case studies, and practice. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Toronto, Canada.
Graue, E., Hatch, K., Rao, K., & Oen, D. (2007). The wisdom of class-size reduction. American Educational Research Journal, 44, 670–700.
Hackman, D. G. (2004). Scheduling to promote personalized learning. In A. Fymier & R. G. Joekel (Eds.), Changing the school learning environment: Where do we stand after decades of reform? (pp. 73–107). Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Education.
Higgins, S., Hall, E., Wall, K., Woolner, P., & McCaughey, C. (2005). The impact of school environments: A literature review. Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK: The Centre of Learning and Teaching, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Retrieved February 23, 2008, from http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/en/Design-Council/Files/System-Files/Download/.
Lezotte, L. W., & Jacoby, B. C. (1990). A guide to the school improvement process based on effective schools research. Okemos, MI: Effective Schools Products, Ltd.
Martin, S. H. (2002). The classroom environment and its effects on the practice of teachers. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 22, 139–156.
Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Moore, G. T. (1987). The physical environment and cognitive development in child-care centers. In C. S. Weinstein & T. G. David (Eds.), Spaces for children: The built environment and child development (pp. 41–71). New York: Plenum Press.
Moos, R. H. (1979). Evaluating educational environments: Procedures, measures, findings, and policy implications. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
National Centre for Education Statistics. (2008). High School for Recording Arts. Retrieved November 15, 2008, from http://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/sch_info_popup.asp?Type=Public&ID=270016002955.
Ogawa, R. T., Crain, R., Loomis, M., & Ball, T. (2008). CHAT-IT: Toward conceptualizing learning in the context of formal organizations. Educational Researcher, 37, 83–95.
Owens, R. G., & Valesky, T. C. (2007). Organizational behavior in education: Adaptive leadership and school reform (9th ed.). Toronto, Canada: Pearson Education, Inc.
Peponis, J., Bafna, S., Bajaj, R., Bromberg, J., Congdon, C., Rashid, M., et al. (2007). Designing space to support knowledge work. Environment and Behavior, 39, 815–840.
Picus, L. O., Marion, S. F., Calvo, N., & Glenn, W. J. (2005). Understanding the relationship between student achievement and the quality of educational facilities: Evidence from Wyoming. Peabody Journal of Education, 80(3), 71–95.
Schneider, M. (2002). Do school facilities affect academic outcomes? National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities. Retrieved November 23, 2006, from www.edfacilities.org/pubs/outcomes.pdf.
Tyack, D., & Cuban, L. (1995). Tinkering toward Utopia: A century of public school reform. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Vernez, G., & Goldhaber, D. (2006). Implementing comprehensive school reform models. In D. K. Aladjem & K. M. Borman (Eds.), Examining comprehensive school reform (pp. 179–218). Washington, DC: The Urban Institute Press.
Woolner, P., Hall, E., Wall, K., Higgins, S., Blake, A., & McCaughey, C. (2005). School building programmes: Motivations, consequences and applications. Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK: The Centre for Learning and Teaching, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Retrieved April 11, 2008, from http://www.cfbt.com/PDF/91078.pdf.
Yin, R. K. (2003). Case study research: Design and methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
York-Barr, J., Ghere, G., & Sommerness, J. (2007). Collaborative teaching to increase ELL student learning: A three-year urban elementary case study. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk, 12, 301–335.
Zeisel, J. (2006). Inquiry by design: Environment/behaviour/neuroscience in architecture, interiors, landscape, and planning. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Zepeda, S. J., & Mayers, R. S. (2006). An analysis of research on block scheduling. Review of Educational Research, 76(1), 137–170.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gislason, N. Architectural design and the learning environment: A framework for school design research. Learning Environ Res 13, 127–145 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-010-9071-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-010-9071-x