Cluster seating is when students are seated in groups of 2-5 and facing each other. A cluster classroom layout is helpful because it allows students to interact and easily work together. Cluster seating changes the way the classroom functions. As shown in the below diagram, the pros of a cluster layout are that it encourages interaction of all students, creates a more personal and safe environment for students to convey their ideas, develops reflection and communication skills, and others. At the same time, the cons of cluster classroom layout are increased noise level, decreased productivity, less individual accountability, and harder to assess students' abilities and level of understanding.
