According to the author, prior to a move, their classroom was overflowing with stuff on the walls, on the shelves, under the tables, in the file cabinets, and in the folders upon folders in their computer drive. It wasn't just the author's physical and virtual spaces that were full; their curriculum units were packed with lessons and activities,…

The concept of behavioral effectiveness and why it is important to understand and measure relative to what teachers do and the way classrooms are designed are discussed. Aspects covered include the following: (1) which classroom behaviors relate to learning and how they are organized; (2) the significance of classroom behavior as the first thing…

Classroom management is discussed in terms of effective instruction, successful group management, maximum use of space, time, and resources, meaningful discipline, student rights, and change strategies. The discussion of effective instruction stresses appropriateness, completeness, clarity, and a variety of lessons. Techniques for successful group…

Research shows that great success in behavior change lies in the manipulation of environmental contingencies. Efficient teaching is a function of the proper manipulation of events in the classroom. Many studies concerning classroom design, contingency contracting, and educational engineering have shown the effectiveness of the use of reinforcement…

The paper presents a philosophy of education for severely deviant children and adolescents who are brain damaged (severely retarded), mentally ill, or behaviorally uncontrolled. The following are program components: psychologically and educationally sound materials such as programed materials following a life experience approach, operant…

Described is a program for 110 multiply handicapped (deaf and emotionally disturbed) children between the ages of 5 and 18 years which utilizes behavior modification strategies. (DB)

Many investigators have been interested in the development of techniques for remediating undersirable classroom behavior, but far less attention has been paid to physical, spatial and architectural variables which often set the occasion for inappropriate behavior in the classroom. The present study explored the relationships between these…

Spatial distribution of activity in a second-third grade open classroom was observed before and after a change in the physical design, to test the hypothesis that minor changes in the physical setting would produce predictable, desirable changes in student behavior. In most cases the desired behavior changes were produced. (Author/MV)

This research evaluated the effects of a design modification in an open-plan high school. The addition of several variable height partitions throughout the school reduced classroom interruptions and increased content questions. Hypotheses about specific design mechanisms contributing to environment-behavior congruence in open plan schools were…

Investigates how two traditional early childhood activity settings, the block and housekeeping areas, influence young children's play and social behaviors. (Author/MP)

Case study assessed effects of rearrangement of desks in an open classroom on incidents of disruptive behavior occurring in that classroom. Results revealed that alteration of the physical environment produced positive responses from students through reduction of maladaptive behavior occurrences. (Author/MH)

This workshop module focuses on how teachers can structure situations and activities in their classrooms to encourage or require a much broader range of behaviors and skills than are usually called for. It is designed to increase teachers' awareness of the various structural elements that can be manipulated in a classroom, and the way in which…