Are Open Plan Classrooms Distracting?

(The Age) An Australian think tank has urged the Australian government to stop building open plan classrooms, citing lack of evidence that such spaces improve learning outcomes. Too much noise has been proven to be bad for learning, the group argues, and in rooms with multiple classes happening at once, it can be difficult to focus or even hear the teacher. Some schools have added walls to formerly open spaces to provide more flexibility; teachers don't have to coordinate louder and quieter activity times. 

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