Open Plan Schools in Malmo, Sweden. Management Analysis Paper.

Recognition of new demands in Swedish education during the 1960s led to selection of eight principles to be considered in educational facilities planning. These principles concerned (1) freedom of students to change schools, (2) availability of school space for nonschool functions, (3) flexible use of spaces for varied student activities, (4) allowing for alternative student groupings, (5) encouraging staff cooperation and teamwork, (6) facilitating integration of subject matter taught, (7) ready access to media and study material, and (8) integration of remedial education. By 1974 eighteen schools covering varying levels from elementary to secondary levels had been built in the Malmo region with these principles incorporated to some degree. The process used to evaluate these schools and their success in attaining the new educational goals is described in this document, and problems identified in different aspects of the evaluation process are discussed. (Author/PGD)