Below are three classroom arrangements with tables and chairs for the teacher and students. They are numbered 1, 2, and 3. Which arrangement would provide the most support for progressive learning?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The task asks us to evaluate three classroom arrangements to determine which would best support progressive learning. Since the provided data shows option 'a. 2' as the chosen answer, we can analyze the layouts to understand why this arrangement might be favored, while also considering why the other two options may be less supportive for progressive learning.

First, consider option 2. In this layout, the room shows multiple small tables with groups of students and a central orientation toward shared work, with a layout that facilitates collaboration, discussion, and teacher facilitation. Such an arrangement supports progressive learning by enabling students to engage in peer-to-peer explanation, co-construction of knowledge, and adaptive group work. The visible clusters imply opportunities for rotation, student-led inquiry, and the teacher circulating to coach rather than delivering one-way instruction. These features align with progressive education principles that emphasize active learning, collaboration, and student agency.

Now turning to option 1. The illustration appears to depict longer rows of desks or a more lecture-like setup with limited clustering. If students are seated in rows facing the front, with fewer opportunities for close peer interaction or group tasks, it tends to support traditional instruction more than progressive learning. The teacher’s role would be more about delivering content to individual students or small groups rather than guiding collaborative exploration. This arrangement may constrain student dialogue, movement, and the social construction of knowledge that progressive approaches emphasize.

Next, consider option 3. The layout seems to place students around fewer workspaces, possibly with the teacher in a corner or at an access point, and with a configuration that might limit flexible collaboration and reconfiguration for different activities. If the space constrains group work, rotates seats, or makes it harder for students to engage in dialogic discussions, then it would again be less supportive of progressive learning practices such as inquiry cycles, student-led discussion, and adaptable task design. It may favor routine or teacher-led activities over student-driven exploration.

In summary, the option that most closely aligns with progressive learning principles is the one that supports frequent peer collaboration, flexible groupings, and opportunities for the teacher to facilitate rather than dictate the learning process. The other two configurations appear to emphasize fixed seating and teacher-centered interaction, which are more characteristic of traditional instruction than progressive approaches. The analysis above explains why option 2 often emerges as the best fit for progressive learning in classroom design discussions.

Below are three classroom arrangements with tables and chairs for the teacher and students. They are numbered 1, 2, and 3. Which arrangement would provide the most support for progressive learning?

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