i teach in a kitchen environment and found that the students learn more if they are comfortable with the group they are working with
Love the idea of leaving your troubles outside the classroom. So many times students step into the classroom "carrying" the burdens from their personal lives. This presents a distraction for them and takes away from the learning experience.
Leaving troubles at the door allows students to be "present" in their learning environment.
Space is extremely important. Although most often the space is dictated by the school, as an instructor I have opportunities to make small improvements: lighting; table & chair alignment/arrangement; removal of garbage are a couple of things I can do to enhance the space.
Hi Janet,
Good discussion about the learning environment. You didn't go a stray with your example of your step daughter. We move toward what we focus on and your advice about being in a medical environment is good. By being in such an environment she will see how she can fit into such a setting and will move toward the preparation needed to do such. By staying out of the environment it will much easier to talk about it without making moves to make it a reality.
Gary
Hi Sara,
Good discussion on the various aspects of the learning environment. You did a great job of stepping back and seeing things from the student perspective.
I am like you in that there are certain classrooms that do not lend themselves to learning. Even though I have to teach in them I find that I have to work harder to keep the students engaged since the environment doesn't support comfort and engagement.
Gary
The learning environment sets the stage for the students ability to listen, learn, interact and process the information. In certain classes it makes sense to rearrange the seating structure, like the semi-circle or other techniques suggested by other instructors on this board.
Another key thing is to work with your school to make sure that the room is a) the right size for your class and b) has all the technology and resources you need.
On the first point, a class that is two big allows students to feel disconnected and distant from the instructor and each other.
On the second point, some classes are able to utilize a lot of technological assets like PowerPoints, video clips, audio clips and websites. When a class is trying to utilize all those with a makeshift projector or screen, it can be disruptive and hurt the effectiveness of the presentation. At the same time, if the classroom is set up around a big screen and a whiteboard and the instructor doesn't use either, or worse yet if a class is taught in a computer lab when students don't need computers for big sections of the class, the resources only serve as a distraction.
I work in an online environment, both for the school and in my 'regular' job.
This has taken me time to figure out. My first understanding of successful students involved immersion in the environment, so in a residential setting, students who can be fully involved and focused with as few outside distractions or unmet needs can be expected to be successful. In an online environment, some of those opportunities for immersion may not be available or may just look different. I think one example of immersion might be my step daughter, who wants to go to med school. She has taken all the courses but continues to work at places like Target and Best Buy, while I think she should work in a medical environment. Maybe I should consider aspects of personal interaction and customer service developing for her while she is at Target and Best Buy -- but maybe she could consider that becoming familiar with the medical environment is a good thing to do, gets her used to the flow, the personality of the business and the bureaucracy of it.
In any event, that may be straying, Online offers its own issues (netiquette, tech issues, little face to face), some recognizeable. I rely on the student immersing themselves in the textbook, using the identified external resources, finding/identifying additional online resources.
What role does the learning environment play in the instructional process?
I believe the learning environment plays a very important role. As a student, I remember having classes I couldn't wait to get to; I particpated and the discussions in class were lively because of the environment. To the contrary, I remember having classes that I always felt constricted in and the environment and tone set by the instructor was one of exclusion.
As an instructor, I try to make the environment an inviting one where every student feels he/she can contribute.
What are some ways a learning environment can be adapted to maximize the instructional process?
The learning environment as an intangible place can be adapted through an instructor's tone, level of patience, ability to set clear expectations, communicating to students on their level, use of humor, etc.
The physical learning environment can be adapted in a number of ways. Chaning the seating arrangement from rows to a large circle, opening the blinds to let in more light (I find a well-lit room sets a good tone with most students), having the day's objectives on the board everyday so the students know what to expect, etc. all maximize my instructional process.
As strange as it sounds, there are classrooms that I don't care to teach in because the lighting (both natural and electrical) is poor and the ceilings are lower. The students have mentioned their disdain for the classroom as well.
Hi Josue,
With a small class you might want to have each student do some type of report or project each time the class meets. The projects don't have to be long just enough that each student sees how he/she is essential to the class. Also, their absence will be noted as a result of them not presenting their project/topic.
Gary
Hi Michelle,
The idea of moving students around to get into groups is a good one. After a lecture putting them into groups helps to get the blood flowing, their brains relaxing and their focus reset.
Gary
I am a new adjunct instructor at our school and have only a class of 5. I want to create an environment that is inviting and comfortable to the students but not so laid-back that they feel it's OK not show up (being that the class is small). Any help on how I can accomplish this. Thanks!
Where possible, I like to orient the room so my students sit up close. I hate teaching in long narrow rooms. I like wide and shallow so even the students in the back are really pretty close. I've been fortunate that in the colleges I have taught, accounting classes are taught in designated rooms. This allows for posters, texts, FASB pronouncements, journals and other accounting items to propagate the room and impact the learning environment. I like to use a whiteboard to solve problems and show examples. Additionally, I might have a ppt lecture I want to present as well as a video clip or audio clip related to the topic. I think having access to these resources helps us reach learners of different styles and helps create diversity in the instructional process.
In my classroom, we have all of the equipment, tools, and software that we need. The classroom is also equipped with an overhead projector.
It may sound pretty obvious, but it took me a few quarters to figure out that if on Day 1, I ask students to move closer to the front of the room (instead of the ever-popular back row), the students learn better.
I particularly take the time to mention that I will be doing a lot of demos on the projector, many of which include lots of text-code. I say that things are easier to SEE up front, and explain that as my reasoning for asking them to move up closer.
Also, I go into preferences and turn font-size up, so students can read more easily
The learning environment plays a crucial role in the instructional process, in my opinion. If I will be lecturing, I am fine with the students sitting in rows. However, if I know that students will be doing a discussion, I either want them to sit in a semi-circle or at least be in the position to move around. I am also big on group work; collaboration makes a big difference in learning several concepts in my class. So, my students also move around a lot to get into small groups or partner settings.
The learning environment is plays a large role in the instructional process. As a teacher we have to make it as comfortable as possible, so students are willing to participate in class activities. As a teacher we can make sure that it is inviting (have a personal touch to it... pictures of things the teacher likes, pictures of topics that will be discussed through the course, student of the week board, etc). I believe you have to get a feel for your class and then you can adapt your environment. If I have a class of 50 girls who love shopping, I may have several shopping bags around the class, etc.
Hi Sarah,
Through the use of the different delivery methods plus the visual items you post in the classroom/lab you are incorporating the different senses into the total learning environment.
Gary
The learning environment is extremely important. It is important for the students to feel comfortable with classmates and the instructor so that they are at ease while in class to allow them to focus on class related material.
It is also important to have the materials needed for class available in the learning environment. For example, I teach veterinary anatomy, and in our class room we have anatomy posters on the walls that facilitate our learning, as well as different instructional models that provide visual aids as well as something tactile for students to maximize the instructional process. We can apply many different methods of learning during class time.
The learning environment plays a significant factor in how students are able to learn. It is important to bring in items or tools to help students gain a better understanding of the material, but they need to be presented in a way that enhances the learning but does not create a distraction. Other things to consider when creating the learning environment is the time of day of the class. Would a different room set-up work better for evening classes versus morning or afternoon?
An effective way to adapt learning environment to maximize the instructional process is, if possible, get it to mirror a work environment. It can be as simple as setting the room up in a meeting format for lecture instead of standard classroom set up. Someting like this works well to get students engaged.
I agree about mixing the students up. In my classroom we work with different people every week. Some people don't like stepping out of their comfort zone, they like to work with their friends but it doesn't usually happen that way out in the field.
I also like to have students share their personal experiences if they relate to the topic being covered for the day. When they share a technique they have learned outside of the classroom it presents an opportunity for a class discussion, they feel a sense of pride being able to contribute their ideas, and they feel more comfortable in the classroom.
Learning environment affects how well students will be able to concentrate and to learn. It also affects the way that students will interact with each other and with the instructor.
It's a proven fact that adults do better at tables than they do in desks. They need space to spread out.
It's also important to control where students sit to some extent. If your class is not going to fill the room, it might be wise to tell students which areas of the room will be available for seating. They can choose seats, but only within that area. Another technique that can be used is for the instructor to move forward into the seating area if students sit toward the back of the room. In any case, there should not be a lot of empty space at the front of the room.
If student interaction and discussion is going to be important to the class, it is helpful to arrange seating so that all students can see each other and so that instructor is part of the group rather than standing alone at the front of the room.
There are many ways that the environment can be manipulated in order to be more effective.
