Are Pupils in the Open Plan School Different?

Creativity and achievement of second graders in open and traditional classrooms.

“…Although the findings with respect to measures of creativity are supported by Ward and Barcher (1975) and Wright (1975), they conflict with those of previous studies that have found differences in favor of open classrooms (Haddon & Lytton, 1968Wilson et al, 1972). As Ward and Barcher pointed out, one limitation of earlier studies was the failure to operationalize the distinction between open and traditional classes.…”

“…However, several other issues should be considered in interpreting these results as well as those reported by Ward and Barcher (1975). First, both Haddon and Lytton (1968) and Wilson et al (1972) used 11-and 12-year-olds in their studies. Although Wright (1975) found no differences at this age level, it is possible that an open environment has different effects on creativity at different periods of development.…”

“…Also, a follow-up study 4 years later indicated that these differences were maintained (Haddon & Lytton, 1971). Wilson, Stuckey, and Langevin (1972) reported that 11-and 12year-olds who attended an open plan school for 6 years were superior to students in a new open plan school and those in two traditional schools on 5 out of 18 creativity measures.…”

The Changing Role of the Classroom Teacher

“…The function of the school is to encourage exploration. 4. Teaching is more of a lateral interchange between two persons of nearly equal status.…”

“…Since learning can also occur outside the walls of a classroom, students may be found in many different places and pursuing many different activities. the abilities and interests of students was presented in an atmosphere which encouraged participation, students demonstrated improvement in language skills.3 When two educators compared pupils in two schools with open plan philosophies with a similar group from two traditional schools, they found that students in the open plan schools had more positive attitudes toward school and themselves 4 The children were observed to pass up free time to work on projects, and it was submitted that they demonstrated self-discipline and maturity and appeared to be absorbed in their activities. The schools seemed to view problem behavior as being unfair to other people rather than a discipline problem.…”