Behavioral Mapping of Student Activity in Open-Area and Traditional Schools

Abstract

A system of categories organized along the three dimensions of behavior, location, and social setting, was developed and used to obtain recordings of the activity of pupils in open-area schools and traditional schools. Data were analyzed by comparing frequency counts in each category. Results of the study distinguish the school environments in several ways. Two notable behaviors, reading and writing, were found to be less common in open-areas than in closed classrooms. Social behavior, travel, and housekeeping activities were more frequent in the open-area schools. More locations were used in open-areas, especially libraries, and less time was spent in desks. Interaction between peers was greater in open space at some expense, apparently, to individual contact with the teacher.