My ideal learning environment is when everybody is congregated and brainstorming as one. In my experience, I have a hard time learning in a classroom where it was sort of an "every man for himself" type of atmosphere. In almost every successful classroom, kids work together. Even if it wasn't up to the classroom, it's within student-nature to congregate and create study groups. So why not remove all the scheduling stress for the students and learn in groups inside the class.
Here's a great article on why learning as a team has so many benefits.
Here's some examples on how to reform your classroom.
From This 
To This 
Maybe you don't have to be this radical but it is the general idea. It may even be more subtle like partners or groups of four or five. Either way, incorporating teamwork is the way to go.
