U-Shape
A U lets students see the board and each other. You stand in the opening, close to every seat, which makes it a strong default for seminars, questioning, and classes where you move along the inside of the desks.
Use it when
- Whole-class discussion with a board still in use
- Questioning and cold-calling
- Classes up to about 30 where you want one conversation
Pick something else when
- Students need to face a partner for most of the hour
- The class is large enough that the back of the U cannot hear the opening
- You need a wall of computers facing one direction
Class sizes
10 students
3 rows on a 8 by 9 grid.
12 students
4 rows on a 8 by 10 grid.
14 students
4 rows on a 10 by 10 grid.
16 students
5 rows on a 10 by 11 grid.
18 students
5 rows on a 12 by 11 grid.
20 students
6 rows on a 12 by 12 grid.
22 students
7 rows on a 12 by 13 grid.
24 students
7 rows on a 14 by 13 grid.
26 students
8 rows on a 14 by 14 grid.
28 students
8 rows on a 16 by 14 grid.
30 students
9 rows on a 16 by 15 grid.
32 students
10 rows on a 16 by 16 grid.