I don't touch students at all, not even for handshakes. I greet my students at the start of each class with a hearty "Good morning!" and call them by last name (Ms. Smith, e.g.), but I will not touch them at all for any reason save a life or death emergency. I don't need the kind of trouble that could lead to.
The learning environment plays a very important in the instructional process. I find that creating a very respectful learning setting helps. Greeting students and a handshake feels warm, welcoming and very respectful.
It plays a major role. If you create a positive classroom climate your students will most likely want to return to your classroom!
Hi Sir Roy,
You make a number of very good points about how to set up a classroom that is welcoming to students. This shows your professional attitude and that you care about your students. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Hi Eduardo,
Good point. The learning environment has to bee clean and organized. Instructors that do not make this happen are going to be challenged in their teaching because they are showing the students that they don't really care about how the class is set up, so they don't care about student success.
Gary
The learning environment is very importtant, as it helps the student to learn and be active with the material. Your can adapt the learning environment by putting up posters that reflect the profession that they are to get into. Having good lighting and plants also helps relax the person. Colors that are neytral are good, less distraction. Aromas that relax are also good. The enviroment has to be relaxing and motavative.
Hi Joseph,
The seating arrangement really depends upon your presentation style and the course you are teaching. If there is a lot of discussion then tables arranged so the students can see each other but when in small groups they can work at their tables is a good plan. This arrangement works well with classes that do a lot of case studies or projects.
Gary
I agree with all the reponses I have read the sitting arangement, books,couse related items,colors,etc..But here's one that I have seen in all types of learning institutions it's classrooms that are disorganized,have dirty tables,and floors.I beleive this sets the atmosphere of what is to come.
I have found that the learning environment that provides too many distractions, such as computers at every desk, erodes the ability of students to concentrate on the subject matter. Similarly, I find little use for the traditional lecture hall/room setup. I wonder if tables where small groups can congregate would be better for interaction during a variety of activities throughout a class session.
Hi Robert,
The course syllabus is the road map that the students will be following for the entire course. It needs to be clear and specific so there won't be any misunderstandings. Good comments about how you use the syllabus and the course outline.
Gary
I find having a course outline is very helpful.
A master plan is good to have inplace in case an instructor calls off sick, the instructor who takes over can see where the class is for thatday. Then he can set leson plan for the day
Syllabus is a must to have for each class. It gives the student detailed information about the class & grading is to be in class & objetives.
Hi Sara,
You make a very good point about the little things that can become big things if not handled quickly. That noisy heater can pull the attention of students off as much as 40% in a given class period. This makes retention of content very hard for them as a result. Good attention to detail.
Gary
Hi Lin,
Good idea. Music not only helps to settle students they are learning something besides in terms of culture. This will help them to focus better on the course content and will enhance their retention.
Gary
Hi Arlene,
Well said about the class environment. It is our professional responsibility to make sure all of the components you listed are in place as our students enter. Once we reduce their fears and they get comfortable with the setting they can focus their attention on learning and career success.
Gary
The learning environment plays a larger than expected role in the instructional process. I try to check out my rooms prior to the semester starting and prior to each class to make sure I have enough supplies to teach the lesson for the day. I've had to address physical plant issues like blinking flourescent lights or a noisy heater, which the students aren't afraid to bring up as distractions. Once brought to the attention of the appropriate person, these issues are easily remedied.
student's mood or passion of learning would be affected by learning environment; also, it will help student to understand/experience some thing they have never had. I play back ground music that from particular region when we are working on regional lab, i think it is really take student get into the region and get some ideas about different cultrue.
The learning environment has a wide range of variables: The room temperature, the sounds or the quiet, the emotional safety, the available space to work. Some of these are under our control; others are not. And not all students will feel comfortable in the same settings.
Within the classroom we can maintain a neutral environment that provides a good environment for the majority of the students. We can discuss with the students how to chose a study environment that fits their learning style.
The ideal learning environment isn't the same for all students. Some work best when they can talk to themselves while others need quiet. A visually busy room can stimulate the thinking of some, while others need a quiet, almost stark, learning environment.
As instructors we have a key to part of the learning environment that is often overlooked. Do the students feel safe? Are they safe asking questions? Are they safe contributing to a discussion when their thought is not mainstream? Are they safe going to their cars? Are they safe from ridicule (both subtle and overt)?
Hi John,
Dead on! Immediate use of newly acquired knowledge is key for learning. Your students being "ready for the house" says it all. They know when they have progressed to that level and get to show their stuff. That's what teaching is about.
Gary
Hi David,
You are right about the instructor setting the tone for the class. "Everything rises and falls on leadership" as the old saying goes. You are the center of the educational environment and how you set up the classroom or lab and how you present yourself to your students will determine how successful both you and they are going to be.
Gary
