Bullying remains a pervasive problem in schools across the nation. Various detrimental social, psychological, emotional, and academic effects can result from involvement in bullying regardless of whether a student is the perpetrator, victim, witness, or a combination of the three. Recent literature has made significant connections between a school’s overall climate and bullying behaviors, suggesting the need for school-wide interventions to combat the problem. As a part of school climate, unstructured areas such as the playground, have been targeted as a critical area in need of support. Researchers attribute poor safety on the playground to lack of adequate and trained supervision. Fortunately, Systematic Supervision is a training program based in empirically supported principles that shows likelihood for success to improve climate and reduce bullying behaviors on the playground and the school as a whole (Smith, & Sprague, 2011). Yet, this program has not been thoroughly evaluated in peer reviewed journals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Systematic Supervision for improving playground safety, reducing bullying behavior, and enhancing school climate. Behavioral observations and student and teacher school climate surveys collected from 35 schools over two years were assessed. Comparisons were made between schools that received the intervention with those that were wait-listed controls. Results of the study suggest that Systematic Supervision is an effective means of training playground monitors to use active supervision behaviors. Unfortunately, no significant connections could be made with regard to the implementation of Systematic Supervision and subsequent changes in student or teacher perceptions of safety, in perceptions of school climate, or in bulling behaviors. A discussion of the results and their implications is included in detail.

Children with sensorial and cognitive disabilities have been largely ignored under the ‘universal’ design philosophy. This is clearly an oversight on the part of the design community as autism, present designers with the opportunity to take on new environmental design challenges. As research demonstrates, children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are extremely disadvantaged when it comes to playing both with others and alone. As a result, children with autism have underdeveloped socializing skills and can suffer from low self-esteem, self-worth and loneliness. This practicum supposes that safe, stimulating and engaging play spaces for autistic children could not only improve their development in these areas, but enrich their lives. Furthermore, it provides background into autism, its affect on the human senses and play, supplies results of an observational study and provides an example of a play space designed to increase social interaction and accommodate sensorial needs in order to decrease isolation. / February 2009

Children with sensorial and cognitive disabilities have been largely ignored under the ‘universal’ design philosophy. This is clearly an oversight on the part of the design community as autism, present designers with the opportunity to take on new environmental design challenges. As research demonstrates, children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are extremely disadvantaged when it comes to playing both with others and alone. As a result, children with autism have underdeveloped socializing skills and can suffer from low self-esteem, self-worth and loneliness. This practicum supposes that safe, stimulating and engaging play spaces for autistic children could not only improve their development in these areas, but enrich their lives. Furthermore, it provides background into autism, its affect on the human senses and play, supplies results of an observational study and provides an example of a play space designed to increase social interaction and accommodate sensorial needs in order to decrease isolation.

Theme parks have a long history. Throughout this history, they have experienced two major growth spurts, in the 1920s and in the 1960s. The best-known contemporary theme parks are the Disney facilities, the first of which officially opened in Anaheim, California in 1955 and, as part of that second period of growth, changed the amusement industry beyond recognition. Since then, the theme park industry in the United States has grown dramatically. Winnipeg is recognized as the hometown of Winnie-the-Pooh. This begs the question of why there are no activities or events in Winnipeg that celebrate this figure. This practicum will analyze two books in the Winnie-the-Pooh series - Winnie-the-Pooh and The House At Pooh Corner and identify the significant storylines that might be represented in a themed parkland setting. The proposed site is in Assiniboine Park to the west of downtown of Winnipeg. The practicum is based on the methods outlined in Miodrag Mitrasinovic's Total Landscape, Theme Parks, Public Space. In that book Mitrasinovic addresses the properties of what he calls "privately-owned publicly accessible space in themed mode" (PROPASt) as a model for an holistic approach to the creation of public space. The proposed site will designed as a theme-based year round area within Assiniboine Park.

Children with sensorial and cognitive disabilities have been largely ignored under the ‘universal’ design philosophy. This is clearly an oversight on the part of the design community as autism, present designers with the opportunity to take on new environmental design challenges. As research demonstrates, children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are extremely disadvantaged when it comes to playing both with others and alone. As a result, children with autism have underdeveloped socializing skills and can suffer from low self-esteem, self-worth and loneliness. This practicum supposes that safe, stimulating and engaging play spaces for autistic children could not only improve their development in these areas, but enrich their lives. Furthermore, it provides background into autism, its affect on the human senses and play, supplies results of an observational study and provides an example of a play space designed to increase social interaction and accommodate sensorial needs in order to decrease isolation.

Theme parks have a long history. Throughout this history, they have experienced two major growth spurts, in the 1920s and in the 1960s. The best-known contemporary theme parks are the Disney facilities, the first of which officially opened in Anaheim, California in 1955 and, as part of that second period of growth, changed the amusement industry beyond recognition. Since then, the theme park industry in the United States has grown dramatically. Winnipeg is recognized as the hometown of Winnie-the-Pooh. This begs the question of why there are no activities or events in Winnipeg that celebrate this figure. This practicum will analyze two books in the Winnie-the-Pooh series - Winnie-the-Pooh and The House At Pooh Corner and identify the significant storylines that might be represented in a themed parkland setting. The proposed site is in Assiniboine Park to the west of downtown of Winnipeg. The practicum is based on the methods outlined in Miodrag Mitrasinovic's Total Landscape, Theme Parks, Public Space. In that book Mitrasinovic addresses the properties of what he calls "privately-owned publicly accessible space in themed mode" (PROPASt) as a model for an holistic approach to the creation of public space. The proposed site will designed as a theme-based year round area within Assiniboine Park.

This project is an elementary school located in a suburban area outside of Williamsburg, Virginia. The building is sited on an eight acre plot of wooded land and is designed for 100 students. A playground is designed as a counterpart to the school. A design approach which resembles the layering of space is developed through the drawings. The experience of these spaces establishes a dialogue between building and student likened to a game of hide and seek. / Master of Architecture

Esta pesquisa investiga como aspectos locacionais e aspectos físico-espaciais das pracinhas infantis podem influenciar, de forma positiva ou negativa, no estado de conservação destas pracinhas, na percepção de segurança e, consequentemente, na sua frequência e intensidade de uso por crianças e acompanhantes. Dentre os aspectos locacionais estão, o controle de acesso aos conjuntos habitacionais e as pracinhas infantis, os caminhos de acesso às pracinhas infantis a partir das moradias, a localização das pracinhas nos conjuntos habitacionais, as conexões visuais entre as moradias e as pracinhas infantis e o entorno imediato às pracinhas infantis. Em relação aos aspectos físicos das pracinhas são tratados, o dimensionamento físico das pracinhas infantis, a adequação dos equipamentos de brincar e do mobiliário e a adequação da vegetação. Assim, o objetivo é investigar a relação entre os aspectos locacionais das pracinhas infantis e a adequação no uso por criança e acompanhantes, e a relação entre os aspectos físicos das pracinhas infantis e as suas avaliações pelas crianças e acompanhantes. Para tanto, são selecionadas oito pracinhas infantis em seis conjuntos habitacionais localizados em Porto Alegre. Os métodos de coletas de dados fazem parte dos utilizados na área de estudo Ambiente e Comportamento, sistematizados por meio de levantamento de arquivo, levantamento físico, observações de comportamento, questionários e entrevistas. Os dados coletados foram analisados de forma qualitativa e quantitativa, através de testes estatísticos não-paramétricos. Os resultados desta investigação demonstram que, a falta de controle de acesso aos conjuntos afeta negativamente o estado de conservação das pracinhas infantis, bem como a percepção de segurança das crianças e dos acompanhantes. A intensidade de uso tende a ser pior nas pracinhas mal localizadas e com menor controle visual. A conservação dos equipamentos tendem a ser pior nas pracinhas com dimensionamento físico e equipamentos inadequados à intensidade de uso. Por fim, espera-se que os dados obtidos possam contribuir para qualificar projetos de pracinhas infantis em conjuntos habitacionais, a fim de responder melhor às necessidades das crianças e dos acompanhantes. / This research investigates how locational and physical aspects of playground can influence, positively or negatively, in the state of conservation of these small squares, the perception of safety and consequently the intensity of use by children and companions. Among the locational aspects are, the control of access to housing and children's small squares, access roads to playground from the villas, the location of playground in the projects, the visual connections between housing and children's small squares and immediate surroundings to playground. Regarding the physical aspects of playground are treated, the physical design of children's small squares, the adequacy of equipment to play and the furniture and the adequacy of vegetation. The objective is to investigate the relationship between the locational aspects of children's grunts and adapt them to the children and their companions, and the relationship between the physical aspects of playground and their assessments by the children and their companions. Therefore, eight playground are selected in six housing estates located in Porto Alegre. The methods of data collection are part of the area used in environment studies and behavior, systematized through archival survey, physical survey, behavioral observations, questionnaires and interviews. The collected data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, using non-parametric statistical tests. The results of this research show that the lack of control of access to sets negatively affect the conservation status of playground and the perception of safety of children and companions. The intensity of use tends to be worse in poorly located playground and less visual control. The conservation tend to be worse in small squares with physical design and equipment unsuited to the intensity of use. Finally, it is expected that the data obtained can help to qualify playground projects in housing, in order to better meet the needs of children and their carers.

Esta pesquisa investiga como aspectos locacionais e aspectos físico-espaciais das pracinhas infantis podem influenciar, de forma positiva ou negativa, no estado de conservação destas pracinhas, na percepção de segurança e, consequentemente, na sua frequência e intensidade de uso por crianças e acompanhantes. Dentre os aspectos locacionais estão, o controle de acesso aos conjuntos habitacionais e as pracinhas infantis, os caminhos de acesso às pracinhas infantis a partir das moradias, a localização das pracinhas nos conjuntos habitacionais, as conexões visuais entre as moradias e as pracinhas infantis e o entorno imediato às pracinhas infantis. Em relação aos aspectos físicos das pracinhas são tratados, o dimensionamento físico das pracinhas infantis, a adequação dos equipamentos de brincar e do mobiliário e a adequação da vegetação. Assim, o objetivo é investigar a relação entre os aspectos locacionais das pracinhas infantis e a adequação no uso por criança e acompanhantes, e a relação entre os aspectos físicos das pracinhas infantis e as suas avaliações pelas crianças e acompanhantes. Para tanto, são selecionadas oito pracinhas infantis em seis conjuntos habitacionais localizados em Porto Alegre. Os métodos de coletas de dados fazem parte dos utilizados na área de estudo Ambiente e Comportamento, sistematizados por meio de levantamento de arquivo, levantamento físico, observações de comportamento, questionários e entrevistas. Os dados coletados foram analisados de forma qualitativa e quantitativa, através de testes estatísticos não-paramétricos. Os resultados desta investigação demonstram que, a falta de controle de acesso aos conjuntos afeta negativamente o estado de conservação das pracinhas infantis, bem como a percepção de segurança das crianças e dos acompanhantes. A intensidade de uso tende a ser pior nas pracinhas mal localizadas e com menor controle visual. A conservação dos equipamentos tendem a ser pior nas pracinhas com dimensionamento físico e equipamentos inadequados à intensidade de uso. Por fim, espera-se que os dados obtidos possam contribuir para qualificar projetos de pracinhas infantis em conjuntos habitacionais, a fim de responder melhor às necessidades das crianças e dos acompanhantes. / This research investigates how locational and physical aspects of playground can influence, positively or negatively, in the state of conservation of these small squares, the perception of safety and consequently the intensity of use by children and companions. Among the locational aspects are, the control of access to housing and children's small squares, access roads to playground from the villas, the location of playground in the projects, the visual connections between housing and children's small squares and immediate surroundings to playground. Regarding the physical aspects of playground are treated, the physical design of children's small squares, the adequacy of equipment to play and the furniture and the adequacy of vegetation. The objective is to investigate the relationship between the locational aspects of children's grunts and adapt them to the children and their companions, and the relationship between the physical aspects of playground and their assessments by the children and their companions. Therefore, eight playground are selected in six housing estates located in Porto Alegre. The methods of data collection are part of the area used in environment studies and behavior, systematized through archival survey, physical survey, behavioral observations, questionnaires and interviews. The collected data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, using non-parametric statistical tests. The results of this research show that the lack of control of access to sets negatively affect the conservation status of playground and the perception of safety of children and companions. The intensity of use tends to be worse in poorly located playground and less visual control. The conservation tend to be worse in small squares with physical design and equipment unsuited to the intensity of use. Finally, it is expected that the data obtained can help to qualify playground projects in housing, in order to better meet the needs of children and their carers.

Esta pesquisa investiga como aspectos locacionais e aspectos físico-espaciais das pracinhas infantis podem influenciar, de forma positiva ou negativa, no estado de conservação destas pracinhas, na percepção de segurança e, consequentemente, na sua frequência e intensidade de uso por crianças e acompanhantes. Dentre os aspectos locacionais estão, o controle de acesso aos conjuntos habitacionais e as pracinhas infantis, os caminhos de acesso às pracinhas infantis a partir das moradias, a localização das pracinhas nos conjuntos habitacionais, as conexões visuais entre as moradias e as pracinhas infantis e o entorno imediato às pracinhas infantis. Em relação aos aspectos físicos das pracinhas são tratados, o dimensionamento físico das pracinhas infantis, a adequação dos equipamentos de brincar e do mobiliário e a adequação da vegetação. Assim, o objetivo é investigar a relação entre os aspectos locacionais das pracinhas infantis e a adequação no uso por criança e acompanhantes, e a relação entre os aspectos físicos das pracinhas infantis e as suas avaliações pelas crianças e acompanhantes. Para tanto, são selecionadas oito pracinhas infantis em seis conjuntos habitacionais localizados em Porto Alegre. Os métodos de coletas de dados fazem parte dos utilizados na área de estudo Ambiente e Comportamento, sistematizados por meio de levantamento de arquivo, levantamento físico, observações de comportamento, questionários e entrevistas. Os dados coletados foram analisados de forma qualitativa e quantitativa, através de testes estatísticos não-paramétricos. Os resultados desta investigação demonstram que, a falta de controle de acesso aos conjuntos afeta negativamente o estado de conservação das pracinhas infantis, bem como a percepção de segurança das crianças e dos acompanhantes. A intensidade de uso tende a ser pior nas pracinhas mal localizadas e com menor controle visual. A conservação dos equipamentos tendem a ser pior nas pracinhas com dimensionamento físico e equipamentos inadequados à intensidade de uso. Por fim, espera-se que os dados obtidos possam contribuir para qualificar projetos de pracinhas infantis em conjuntos habitacionais, a fim de responder melhor às necessidades das crianças e dos acompanhantes. / This research investigates how locational and physical aspects of playground can influence, positively or negatively, in the state of conservation of these small squares, the perception of safety and consequently the intensity of use by children and companions. Among the locational aspects are, the control of access to housing and children's small squares, access roads to playground from the villas, the location of playground in the projects, the visual connections between housing and children's small squares and immediate surroundings to playground. Regarding the physical aspects of playground are treated, the physical design of children's small squares, the adequacy of equipment to play and the furniture and the adequacy of vegetation. The objective is to investigate the relationship between the locational aspects of children's grunts and adapt them to the children and their companions, and the relationship between the physical aspects of playground and their assessments by the children and their companions. Therefore, eight playground are selected in six housing estates located in Porto Alegre. The methods of data collection are part of the area used in environment studies and behavior, systematized through archival survey, physical survey, behavioral observations, questionnaires and interviews. The collected data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, using non-parametric statistical tests. The results of this research show that the lack of control of access to sets negatively affect the conservation status of playground and the perception of safety of children and companions. The intensity of use tends to be worse in poorly located playground and less visual control. The conservation tend to be worse in small squares with physical design and equipment unsuited to the intensity of use. Finally, it is expected that the data obtained can help to qualify playground projects in housing, in order to better meet the needs of children and their carers.