The concept of environmental design cybernetics is explained, and its effective use by special educators and architects in creating learning environments is discussed. A proposed habitability framework is defined, and its applications to buildings and building occupants/users are offered. Research on architectural design applied to special education settings is reviewed. Conclusions are provided highlighting the need for collaboration among educators and architects in creating environments that assist learning.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AbendA. C., BednarM. J., CovielloW. J., & StenzlerY.Facilities for special education services.Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Children,1979.
2.
AbesonA., & BlacklowJ.Environmental design, new relevance for special education.Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Education,1971.
3.
BakerD. B.Applications of environmental psychology in programming for severely handicapped persons.JASH, 1981, 5(3), 234–239.
4.
BarkerR. G.Ecological psychology: Concepts and methods for studying the environment of human behavior.Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press,1968.
5.
BestK. I.Deaf-blind education. In LowellE. L., & RouinC. C. (Eds.), State of the art: Perspectives on serving deaf-blind children.Sacramento, CA: California State Department of Education,1977.
6.
BrolinB. C.The failure of modern architecture.New York: Van Nostrand,1976.
7.
CruickshankW. M., & QuayH. C.Learning and physical environment: The necessity for research and research design.Exceptional Children, 1970, 37, 261–268.
8.
FerlegerD.The future of institutions for retarded citizens: The promise of the Pennhurst case.Mental Retardation and the Law.Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, President's Committee on Mental Retardation, July 1978.
9.
HuttC., & ViazeyJ. M.Differential effects of group density on social behavior.Nature, 1966, 209, 1371–1372.
10.
KregerK. D.Compensitory environment programming for the severely retarded behaviorally disturbed.Mental Retardation, 1971, 9(4), 29–33.
11.
LevyE., & McLeodW.The effects of environmental design on adolescents in an institution.Mental Retardation, 1977, 15, 28–32.
12.
MaslowH.A theory of motivation.Psychological Review, 1948, 50, 370–398.
13.
MooreG.Applications of research to the design of therapeutic play environments for exceptional children. In CruickshankW. M. (Ed.), Approaches to Learning.Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press,1981.
14.
PaskG.The meaning of cybernetics in the behavioral sciences. In RoseJ. (Ed.), Progress of cybernetics (Vol. 1). New York: Gordon, 1969.
15.
PreiserW. F. E.Behavior and design: A core bibliography (Rev. ed.). Monticello, IL: Vance Bibliographies, Architectural Series No. A-24, October 1978.
16.
ProshanskyH. M.Visual and spatial aspects of social interaction and group process. Paper presented to the Human Factors Society, New York, 1971.
17.
Rogers-WarrenA., & BaerD. M.An analysis of two naturally covarying behaviors: Activity level and inappropriateness. Paper presented at the 84th Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C., September 6, 1976 (ERIC Document Reproduction Service Number ED 136473).
18.
SpivackM.Archetypal place. In PreiserW. F. E. (Ed.), EDRA 4: Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Environmental Design Research Association Conference Volume I.Stroudsburg, PA: Dowden, Hutchinson, & Ross,1973.
19.
TaylorA.The effects of select stimuli on the art products, concept formation and aesthetic judgmental abilities of four and five year old children. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Arizona State University, 1971.
20.
TaylorA.Program for Herman Hutchens School.Valdez, AK: Author, 1981.
21.
TaylorA., & VlastosG.School zone, learning environments for children.New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold,1975.
22.
TizardB.Observations of overactive imbecile children in controlled and uncontrolled environments I: Classroom studies.American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1968, 72, 540–547. (a)
23.
TizardB.Observations of overactive imbecile children in controlled and uncontrolled environments II: Experimental studies.American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1968, 72, 548–553.(b)
24.
Von FoersterH.On constructing a reality. In PreiserW. F. E. (Ed.), Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Environmental Design Research Association Conference. Volume II.Stroudsburg, PA: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross,1973.
25.
Von FoersterH.The need for perception of the perception of needs.Publication No. 259. Bilogical Computer Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 1975.
