Importance

• Room layout affects people's expectations of what will happen in a space on and attitudes towards it
• Physical distance leads to psychological distance
• Students assigned seats away from instructor/back of room are less engaged than those near
• Environment has great effect on what can and can not be done in a particular space

Desired qualities of space

• Facilitates/promotes peer collaboration
• Space allowing in-class laboratories
• Instructor be able to get around to all students
• Space for individual, group and whole-class activities/interaction
• Support a wide range of teacher-student and student-student communication
• Access to material outside of classroom
• Comfortable, inviting atmosphere
• Incorporate current technology

Quote

"I have tried to incorporate intractive teaching methods in my class for several years.  This semester is the first time it has worked well."

-- Doug Harper, during open house for the WKU Physics Interactive Engagement Classroom