Thanks Jim. Currently the room is approximately twice as long as it is wide, if that helps in gauging rectangularity. Certainly the acoustics are something we are focusing on. We currently use a room with similar dimensions for TBL but the acoustics are very unfavorable. On the other hand, I'm worrying about students seeing other students, not just hearing them. Plus, even if I can see you, you can still feel a long way away from me (thinking of sports stadia!). I would be interested in hearing about the specific facilitation techniques in large groups. Thanks! Hugh Hugh Clements-Jewery, PhD Assistant Professor of Physiology West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine 400 N Lee Street Lewisburg, WV 24901 Office: +1-304-793-6822 Fax: +1-304-645-4859 From: Sibley, James Edward [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 10:28 AM To: Clements-Jewery, Hugh Cc: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Dimensions of the ideal TBL facility My question is how rectangular....a little bit might be ok....but not too much....hmmm In really large group (what I would call 220)...the best I have seen....is the low angle....curved near square (slightly rectangular) theaters with lots of room to move behind rows...usually 2 row each low angle teir Really pay attention to the quality of the room acoustics.....if I can see you and hear you....it will be OK There are some specific facilitation techniques in large groups to encourage interconnectedness I have one of my faculty that is really talneted at this.....If you want I could try to gt you connected with him Jim Sibley Sorry for brief message -sent from my iPad On 2012-05-21, at 7:03 AM, "Clements-Jewery, Hugh" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote: Hi All, We are in the process of designing a large facility for TBL. The facility would encompass the entire class (approx 220 students). Thus far the architects have come up with a room of rectangular proportions. We are worried about the possible lack of 'inter-connectedness' (for want of a better phrase) of the teams in a rectangular room - can teams at one end (or one corner) of the room have difficulty feeling and being a part of the inter-team discussion? Is there any hard evidence that a room with a square design would help with 'inter-connectedness' (we'll need to back up requests to the architects!)? I understand that many of us make TBL work in facilities that are non-ideal, but theoretically what room proportions would you have if money, practicalities etc were not issues? Many thanks in advance Hugh Hugh Clements-Jewery, PhD Assistant Professor of Physiology West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine 400 N Lee Street Lewisburg, WV 24901 Office: +1-304-793-6822 Fax: +1-304-645-4859