The last in a series of General Accounting Office (GAO) reports that present a comprehensive review of the conditions of America's school facilities, this report organizes state-level information gathered from GAO work on school facilities into individual profiles for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report presents new information…

The planning and design of child care centers has been undertaken without sufficient knowledge of children's spatial behavior, resulting in centers not providing appropriate physical conditions for young children's developmental needs. Research suggests that physical environment is important in supporting child development. Child care settings…

This paper reflects on the author's participation in two government-sponsored educational software development projects that used a holistic design paradigm in which classroom formative assessment and teacher input played a critical role in the development process. The two project were: R-WISE (Reading and Writing in a Supportive Environment)--a…

Area-by-area discussions of the components of new educational buildings and the problems that can occur once a building is in use are presented. Methods to be used in avoiding future maintenance and operation troubles are also included. Emphasized throughout is the responsibility of the educational facility planner to learn as much as he can about…

The design of computer-­based learning environments has undergone a paradigm shift; moving students away from instruction that was considered to promote technical rationality grounded in objectivism, to the application of computers to create cognitive tools utilized in constructivist environments. The goal of the resulting computer-­based learning…

This guide presents alternatives, resources, and specifications for industrial education teachers to use in preparing a facilities proposal to present to administrators, boards of education, the community, and architects. Developed to reflect the objectives of industrial education as outlined in the "Wisconsin Guide to Local Curriculum…

This manual provides guidelines for school facilities for conducting technology education throughout the curriculum, especially in Florida. The introductory section of the manual defines technology education and provides information on how it is conducted at each educational level. It also provides technology education facilities guidelines for…

This document, in a looseleaf format that allows for the easy addition of annual updates, is a compilation of information to be used in the planning of educational buildings from the conception of needs through occupancy and use. Each unit contains numerous photographs, drawings, and figures that illustrate the contents. Unit subjects are as…

A specifically designed nature trail can provide enjoyable and relaxed outdoor learning, greater independence and self-direction, and an awareness of the dynamic outside world to the physically, mentally, and multiply handicapped. The trail proposed for the Russell Forest Preserve near Genoa, Illinois, is designed in two loops and features a…

This guide provides evaluative criteria for the elementary-secondary administrator to measure the quality of a school's facilities for general condition and suitability for educational programs. Appraisal criteria and instruments are categorized into six major areas of discussion: "The School Site,""Structural and Mechanical Features,""Plant…

The purpose of the study was to (a) determine the design features of the physical learning environment that support collaborative, project-based learning, and (b) to gain an understanding of the rationale for the selection of the features. The literature review indicated a need for changing learning expectations to prepare learners for rapidly…