This paper explores the issues associated with poor acoustics within schools. Additionally, it suggests remedies for existing buildings and those under renovation, as well as concerns for new construction. The paper discusses the effects of unwanted noise on students in terms of physiological, motivational, and cognitive influences. Issues are…

Author suggests that the function of a building must come first and outlines the four major areas that should be included among the facilities of any learning resources center. (Author/RK)

In order to understand the dynamic influences of the physical environment on seating behavior, a longitudinal study was made of seating choices in the reading area of a university library. Based on analysis, a predictive model was outlined that extrapolates observed behavior in a space to new environmental settings. (BL)

Students in a community design class worked with fifth- and sixth-grade students in planning and constructing models for a local elementary school playground. (MLF)

Describes a study of journalism students that indicated that they slightly preferred front page designs that were ultramodern, followed in order by designs that were traditional, modified traditional, and contemporary. Reports that prior education in editing classes appeared to affect responses. (TJ)

The authors stress the need to design an individualized living plan for handicapped individuals which would protect the needs of this special population and create a variety of programs to foster alternate living arrangements. (PHR)

Reports on the Smithsonian Institution's four-day international symposium on "Children in Museums." (RMH)

What can be done to transform a lump of wet clay into something more than a lump of glaze-fired clay? It is at this point when forming techniques have been mastered that good design becomes most important. Discusses six criteria involved in the search for good design so that students can discover what good design is and how important it is.…

Presents four articles that provide suggestions for teaching document design: (1) "Teaching the Rhetoric of Document Design" (Michael J. Hassett); (2) "Teaching by Example: Suggestions for Assignment Design" (Marilyn A. Dyrud); (3) "Teaching the Page as a Visual Unit" (Bill Hart-Davidson); and (4) "Designing a…

Describes "black box theaters," an increasingly important part of performance arts facilities on school campuses. Discusses the benefits of this design and five design characteristics (keeping it small, providing circulation, creating a mezzanine gallery, reconsidering black, and remembering storage space) that help to optimize performance quality…

Discusses trends in student preferences regarding on-campus housing, and the financing and delivery methods that campuses are using to provide for these wishes. (EV)

Discusses planning, specification, and installation of student lockers, asserting that for the two basic types of lockers, corridor student lockers and athletic lockers, design considerations must focus on space requirements and ease of supervision. Discusses centralized versus decentralized configuration and locker size and type. Includes a chart…

Australia's New South Wales Education Facilities Research Group, a joint initiative between the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Public Works and Services, provides action research into issues which impact on school design. This article describes a few of the initiatives which have resulted, such as an educational video…

Using the example of the construction of Fond du Lac High School in Wisconsin, discusses how multi-layer reviews of facility plans and drawings by staff members and the community help ensure a positive outcome. (EV)

Delineates a user-based design process for Web sites, comprised of four stages: information-gathering; development; test and evaluation; and implementation. Operationalizing definitions of design criteria and translating the criteria into Web page features are also addressed. (PEN)