Presents some of the characteristics of open education, discusses some of the difficulties in evaluating it, and offers recommendations to improve the classic approach to evaluation and to encourage the use of methods outside the classic approach. (IRT)

Evidence from evaluation studies of open classroom effects on children is not sufficiently consistent to warrant unqualified endorsement of that approach over more traditional methods. However, there is enough evidence to support the open classroom as a viable alternative when teachers and parents are interested in such a program. (RD)

The role of the teacher in the open classroom, which depends on human intelligence and feeling more than on anything else, is viewed as especially important at a time when powerful attempts are being made to reduce teachers to insignificance by providing them with foolproof packaged teaching materials. In order to function in an open classroom,…

The term "open education" is used to designate the curriculum and instruction methods associated with an open plan school -- one without interior walls. Such a program consists of more advanced children assisting those less advanced, independent study, children progressing at their own rate, extensive use of the outdoor environment,…

An open school alternative educational experience in the Edina Schools has been examined during its first year of operation by means of systematic observation of over 30 variables. During the six month evaluation period each variable was observed at least three times so as to contribute to the formative evaluation of the program. The results…