The article aims to reveal teachers' dispositions concerning stability and change in the field of schooling and to suggest some possible connection to the social space. Forty teachers who attended a principals' training course were asked to write educational fantasies regarding their "dream school". A content analysis of the fantasies showed…

Building a new school can be exciting and creative. The process enables parents, students, educators and the community to explore their dreams and priorities, and create a facility tailored to their unique needs. Unfortunately, the process also can leave education institutions and communities feeling like they've bought an "off-the-rack" facility…

A study of Founders Hall at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) explores the history of that building and its symbolic role for the campus and the institution. The building was originally a residence built in the late 19th century and was later the location of the Richmond School of Social Work and Public Policy and of the Richmond…

This publication contains materials from a workshop organized to help its participants understand and apply the concept of learning centers. Chapter 1 is an introduction. Chapter 2 consists of two presentations: "Literacy and Continuing Education for Improvement of Quality of Life in Asia and the Pacific" and an explanation of the World…

This booklet is designed to provide educational administrators and planners with an easy guide to understanding the constantly evolving elements of school technology. The booklet presents a comprehensive overview of modern information systems in schools and how they can enhance the students' learning environment. Seven sections address a variety…

A study was conducted to consider ways in which the existing stock of educational buildings can be deployed together with new capital investment and, where appropriate, in cooperation with other national or local initiatives, to contribute to social, economic, and environmental renewal in urban areas. Issues of management and access in the design…

A review of space and utilization standards in California public higher education culminated in several principles that should govern the changes in space and utilization standards generally. These principles were as follows: (1) changes should be conceputally simple, consolidating various formulaic elements into single standards wherever…

This paper identifies and discusses components of successful magnet programs. It is based on a review of existing research literature and information gathered directly from school districts. First, the paper discusses separately the following elements, which are considered "core components": (1) leadership; (2) organizational structure; (3)…

In recent years the use of computers to carry out a range of tasks in the planning and management of educational buildings has proliferated. In June 1988, the Programme on Educational Building arranged a meeting of experts from 13 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries whose objectives were to identify: (1) the…

Proceedings of a meeting of representatives from 13 countries on the effect of the physical environment on educational quality are summaried. Three major issues are addressed: (1) the effect of the physical environment on education; (2) successful school building characteristics; and (3) what can be done to maintain and improve the quality of…

Proper planning in the design of new school facilities saves time, money, and resources. The importance of planning increases when funds are scarce, as limited dollars must be put to their best use. A dialogue should be generated in the community and among members of the school planning committee regarding how schools should look. Many questions…

This illustrated guide for designing and building children's playgrounds opens with a definition of "play space" as a joyful, safe, healthy environment which builds strong bodies and develops emotional stability. Section 1, "Why Play Spaces Are Needed," includes some observations about children's developmental needs and how those needs are being…

Based on research as well as on the down-to-earth experiences which come from running a large military child care center, this director's manual provides guidelines for running an effective program. The guidebook, one in a series on the subject of military child care centers, presents advice on the following seven topics: becoming a center…

The relationships between schools' physical environments and the teachers who work in them were explored. Eleven middle school teachers were interviewed about their orientation toward and operation in their schools. They were asked what they thought were their schools' most important features, how they felt about the buildings, what were its good…

Significant cases of research in terms of their effect on school practices have been extensively documented by educational researchers. This booklet summarizes nine such studies, which are published in detail in a companion volume ("Impact of Research on Education: Some Case Studies"). These studies have a variety reasonably characteristic of…