Of the 33 entrants, only eight submitted POEs a fact we re attributing to a lack of experience in conducting the evaluations and the time and money they require. The Davidson Elementary School POE illustrates the value of direct observation. Adams Group designed enlarged hallways or collaborative areas for students and teaches, and the evaluation revealed just how differently each of these versatile spaces is being utilized. In some cases the hallways are personalized by students. Some teachers set up activity zones in the areas while others use the space for small reading groups.
Older students utilize the area for tutorial and conference space.
The hallways are so attractive to students that some teachers admit to using the privilege of hallway activity as a reward system. The Davidson POE shows how physical design influences the learning environment as well as the management of the facility. This POE, along with that of Davidson, should set the standard for further jury discussions and publication criteria. The Central Tree POE is very comprehensive and indicates what can be realized with a thorough evaluation process. While the design of the classroom clusters are identical, each grade uses them differently.