Room Setup Guide

The furniture and seating arrangements of the room can be organized in a variety of different ways. Each arrangement is used for a specific type of instruction to maximize the efficiency of the lesson being taught. The more flexible the furniture, the easier it will he to create different seating styles to fit the immediate need.

1. Theatre Style

Advantages: Ideal for large groups. Good for presenting videos or films that do not require discussion. Straight lectures with little group participation also works well with this style.

Disadvantages: Does not allow for much group participation. Does not provide writing surface for taking notes. People in the back rows may feel removed from the lecture.

Action Zone: Front, center of the room.

Group Involvement: Little to none.

Seating: Facing the front of the room in rows.

Spacing: Chairs should be aligned 2 inches apart. The first row of seats should be located 6 feet away from the trainers table.

Tables: None in this configuration.

Maximum # of people: There is no maximum for this configuration

Accommodates AV: Yes. Will accommodate equipment well. If a group is larger than 40 participants, consider using projected images on a large screen so everyone can view the presentation.

Variations of Theatre Style

Semicircular:
A slight bend is added to the rows to give a feeling of togetherness. Not recommended for large groups because much floor space is wasted.

Chevron or "V":
Seats are aligned in straight rows, angled at 30 degrees facing the instructor or visual presentation. Again, used to create more harmony in the group.

Room Size	Audience Size	Appropriate Sound System	Wireless Amp	Speakers
2,500 sq. ft.	Up to 500 people	SW720 iPad, iPhone, iPod Wireless PA System	SW720, built-in UHF 16	Built-in full range speaker
10,000 sq. ft.	Up to 1,000 people	SW222 Audio Portable Buddy	SW222, Amp with built-in wireless receiver	Built-in Jensen design
10,000 sq. ft.	Up to 2,500 people	SW800 Titan Portable PA	Built-in digital UHF 16-channel wireless receiver	Built-in full range speaker
25,000 sq. ft.	Up to 3,000 people	SW227 UHF 8-Channel Wireless Powered Speaker Voice Projector Kit	SW225 Voice Projector Amp with build in receiver	Built-in Jensen design
25,000 sq. ft.	Up to 7,500 people	SW915 Audio Travel Partner	SW915 Build in Digital UHF 8-channel wireless receiver	Two NEO Woofers and dynamic compression driver
30,000 sq. ft.	Up to 5,000 people	SW630 Half-mile Hailer Kits	SW610A Amp with built-in wireless receiver	Tapered, weather-resistant horn

2. Circle of Chairs

Advantages: Involves everyone in the group. There is no table in the middle, therefore people are unobstructed and can speak directly to each other. Creates equality among the group, with no designated “leader” position.

Disadvantages: Some people feel uncomfortable or exposed in this type of arrangement. Can only handle small groups of people. Not conducive to visual aids or AV presentations.

Action Zone: Center of the circle.

Group Involvement: High. Aims to involve all participants in group interaction.

Seating: Chairs arranged in complete circle.

Tables: None in this configuration.

Maximum # of people: No more than 20 participants.

Accommodates AV: No. Not conducive for AV presentations, used primarily for group discussions. Cannot place a visual aid in an area that can be viewed by everyone.

Variations with Circle of Chairs

Circle and Table: Combines informal, open characteristics of a circle, yet gives trainees a table for books and note taking. The table may also remove the sense of vulnerability.

Broken Circle: Possesses all of the advantages of the circle but allows visual aids to be used effectively. Also identifies a leader position to pressure involvement of participants if needed.

3. Conference

Advantages: Participants can hear and see each other easily. Unity is created by sharing the table and encourages conversation. Can be used to identify work groups; one group of workers can be seated across the table from another group to present and discuss different ideas.

Disadvantages: People must be rearranged when using AV equipment. Extremely long tables can give a feeling of isolation and discourage participation. Cannot see the faces of all the people. Can highlight tensions between separate groups.

Group Involvement: High. Encourages the involvement of people in the group. Creates a more formal setting than the circle.

Seating: Arranged along sides of tables. Seats at the end of the tables can designate leadership positions.

Accommodates AV: Can be used, but part of the group must temporarily move around to see the presentation.

Variations of a Conference Layout

Square Table: Another formal arrangement hut tables are configured in a square. Allows for more groups to be identified and involved in the meeting.

Hollow Square: Facilitates group discussions and brainstorming, but can also accommodate the agendas of multiple speakers.

4. U-Shaped

Advantages: Easy to see and hear everyone in the group. Front of room commands the group’s attention. Unity is created by ganging all the tables together. Openness gives trainees a sense of freedom and encourages participation. Best set up to view audio visual presentations. Works well with role-playing and other physical activities.

Disadvantages: Requires more space than any other configuration. Due to space and learning requirements, the maximum amount of participants should not exceed 24.

Action Zone: Center and at the open end of the “U”.

Group Involvement: High. Creates a sense of equality within the group.

Tables: Rectangular tables set in a “U’ configuration. Pie shapes are commonly used at the corners to complete the shape and eliminate the hard edges. Trainer’s table is at the opening of the “U”.

Accommodates AV: Yes. This configuration is one of the best for visual displays and multimedia presentations. Equipment set at open end of “U”.

Variations of U-Shaped

Double “U”: Allows trainer to seat more people than single “U’ set up. Limits discussions between the group. Best used when the outside group is observing the discussions or activities of the inside group.

“U” Computer Training: Allows wires to run under the tables easily. This set up also allows the instructor to monitor student's work easily while speaking to the class.

5. Large Classroom

Advantages: Rows of tables with chairs face the front of a room and each person has a space for writing or using a computer. This set-up lends itself to Q&A session with the facilitator rather than interactive discussion between participants.

Disadvantages: Hard for instructor to move into the audience, separating him/her from the students. Student participation seems to drop off towards the back of the room unless sound reinforcement is used.

Action Zone: At the front of the room. Students are focused on the instructor.

Group Involvement: Medium. Allows one way interaction back and forth between instructor and audience or between the trainer and an individual in the group.

Seating: Similar to a school arrangement with participants seated behind a row of desks or tables.

Tables: Arranged in rows, either butted together side by side or standing alone.

6. Small Classroom

Advantages: Every participant has a good view of the front of the room. This allows the instructor a great deal of control over the students. Provides surface for note taking or reference materials.

Disadvantages: Hard for instructor to move into the audience, separating him/her from the students. Student participation seems to drop off towards the back of the room unless sound reinforcement is used.

Variations of Small Classroom

Perpendicular: Tables are arranged in long rows perpendicular to the trainer’s table. The edge of the first table should be 6 feet away from the trainer’s table and a large corridor should be left in the middle to allow for group participation.

Computer Based Training: The classroom set up is commonly used for computers. This can create problems with wires due to the tables being separated. Ideally, power should be supplied near every table. Wire management is a necessity with this set up to safely conceal wires around the work areas.

7. Rounds

Advantages: Great for small group discussions. Allows the instructor to easily walk around to the groups and help them with the exercises.

Disadvantages: A lot of space is needed for this configuration. Not very conducive to lectures or AV presentations. If an AV presentation is part of the program, remove the seats facing the back and arrange them in a horseshoe configuration facing the presentation.

Action Zone: Each individual table.

Group Involvement: High. Designed for small group interaction.

Seating: Seats 4 to 12 people around an individual table.

Tables: Evenly spaced around the room allowing plenty of space for movement.

Space per person: 10 square feet.

Maximum # of people: As many participants that can be seated comfortably. Should not exceed 50.

Accommodates AV: Not very good for visual displays. If an AV presentation is necessary, remove the seats facing the back and arrange them in a horseshoe configuration facing the presentation.