6.1 Introduction

More and more schools and colleges are focusing on the immense benefits offered by open plan teaching. The promise of a flexible learning environment, with all the stimulation and innovation possible in a less codified design arrangement is very attractive to both teachers and students alike. Shared teaching resources and  flexible breakout spaces for students are seen as the ideal in modern educational facilities. However, open plan design has often failed to fulfil the promise of an exciting and efficient learning environment. For open plan arrangements to work effectively, the specific educational needs and the day to day operation of the space must be considered. Future needs must also be factored into design goals. Finally, architecture, services, acoustics and design must be integrated to meet the design goals. By working and liaising with teachers, it is clear that this type of teaching environment can work very well providing the specific educational requirements are fully understood and the correct design goals are set.

In MACH Acoustics’ experience, effective education environments need a diverse range of learning zones:
designated teaching areas, group tables for supervised and unsupervised studies, individual learning spaces, creative spaces, media zones and so on. All of these zones must be sympathetically integrated into one space for open plan teaching to fulfil its exciting potential.

Acoustic Design
One of the main criticisms levelled at open plan educational environments centres on poor acoustics. However, there are some key tools and design techniques which can be used to enhance the acoustic performance of these spaces, and avoid potential problems. These tools are introduced below and then
covered in more depth throughout this chapter.

Distance - Sound levels reduce over distance and this has two
consequences which have to be considered when designing
open plan spaces.

Firstly, a teacher’s voice will decay over distance. As such it is vital that when addressing pupils, the distance between teacher and pupils is kept at a minimum. The second beneficial consequence is that a degree of separation can be achieved between two spaces by increasing the distance between the teaching zones. When designing open plan spaces it is therefore vital to look at the effects of sound decay over distance.

Layouts – The layout of the space dictates the distance over which communication takes place and hence noise levels within the learning zone. Teachers addressing pupils over long distances are required to raise their voices to be heard at the back, which often results in raised voices and therefore noise transfer between  learning areas. Clustering group tables promote random, unnecessary communication from one table to another, which is not only disruptive to the educational process but significantly increases noise levels. Table layout must therefore be carefully considered.

Soft Treatments – Soft treatments provide a marked reduction in occupancy noise levels as a result of the sound being absorbed by panels on walls and ceilings or even soft furnishings. This is of great benefit to an open plan design, providing a quieter, more flexible space. A reverberation time of 0.4 seconds is one of MACH Acoustics’ design goals and therefore substantial amounts of soft treatments are required to
meet this design target.

Screens – Breaking the line of sight between learning zones is often an effective way of providing acoustic separation between two spaces. It is important to recognise that screens do not have to be standard, uninspiring, felt covered wooden boards between desks. They can take many forms; seating, glazed elements,
recessed spaces, corners, shelving, movable panels, projector screens etc. Innovative use of screening can enhance the design quality as well as the acoustic efficiency of an open plan
space.

Partitions – Where an open plan area is being used to provide a full array of educational facilities, a degree of enclosed, cellular space will be required. Partitioned areas will be required when playing DVDs, to  accommodate multimedia equipment, for drama activities, dance, undertaking noisy play and so on. Cellular spaces may also be needed for quiet teaching. It is therefore advised that all large open plan spaces include at least one or two cellular spaces.

Benefits of Open Plan
One of the main benefits of open plan teaching is improved levels of communication, both auditory and visual. An open plan arrangement makes it easier for teachers to employ innovative teaching styles and to observe the techniques of other teachers. Improvements in the assessment of student performance, levels of support and student behaviour is also possible since each student’s activity is either visible to all teachers or can easily be communicated as the student moves from one learning zone to another. Open plan arrangements reduce student segregation, with less able students occupying the same space as higher performing students, thereby promoting cross learning. Open plan spaces offer great potential for pooling resources. Equipment and learning support staff can be allocated more efficiently, in a larger and more organic space. A broader range
of teaching zones and educational facilities/activities can be offered in a more dynamic and colourful design space, enhancing student enthusiasm and their respect for learning. With such obvious benefits, it’s clear that open plan design can provide an excellent learning environment. However, it is fundamental that design ideas compliment the educational requirements and provide improved communication and enhanced diversity.