The learning environment plays a tremendous role in a students learning. If they do not feel comfortable in the physical environment it will affect their amount of learning along with the way they feel about learning. Included in the learning environment is the teacher. How the teacher responds to the students determines how they will respond to the teacher and to the things the teacher wants from them. They are already out of their comfort zone just coming to school, we need to give it back to them so they want to learn.
Autumn,
Thank you for these great comments on generating student excitement about their courses. They need to realize they have chosen their career field and these courses move them closer to achieving their goal of working in the field. They should relish the opportunity to come to class and learn new content and skills. Unfortunately this is not the case with many students. Education on the post secondary level is an opportunity not an entitlement and the students need to assume the responsibility that goes with being students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Students thrive in an environment they love. Hopefully they already have an excitement for the field they are studying, so the learning environment needs to play on that. In Cosmetology the students need to feel like they are in a real salon, in medical fields students need to feel like they are in a doctors office or hospital, and the list goes on. If we feed off the excitement that is there and provide them with a real world learning environment then hopefully the love will develop and that will equal success.
Shannon,
This is a lousy teaching situation for sure. I have taught in such settings and noise and movement really does impact the attention and focus of students. We should not have to teach in such settings but sometimes we have to. It is tough but most students understand and are able to survive in spite of the distractions.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Thom,
What are some of the ways you see it impacting the mood of the class?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Joseph,
Thank you for sharing this experience you had with too many students and not enough work stations. Yes, situations like this do effect the attitudes of students. Colleges should not expect instructors to teach in such settings, yet they do time after time. You are wise in your checking early on the setting so you can make sure it is ready to accommodate the incoming students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
N. Dianne,
You are setting a realistic learning environment for your students. This is as it has to be. Not all of your students will be highly paid network cooking stars. They need to see and learn in a real kitchen and yes, they are hot at times so they need to experience that as well.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It should allow for minimal distraction. One of the classrooms I use is separated from another class by a divider - I can hear everything going on in the next class. The smallest distraction can really hinder learning.
I believe it sets a mood if you will for the class to be more involved.
The learning environment is critical from the moment the first student enters the classroom because it sets the tone for the whole learning experience.
I teach at several colleges and sadly sometimes facilities are not properly prepared and I find myself dealing with things during class time like projectors with blown bulbs or missing software tools from student work stations.
I can remember one incident in particular when the first day of class I had 19 students but only 15 of the work stations were working. It took several class sessions for administrators to correct the problem. Meanwhile I had to adjusted my lesson plan to adapt to the students who had no access to the tools that I was supposed to teach them.
This incident left a poor impression of my course and the school with the students. I had my work cut out for me over the remainder of the course to change that perception.
Now I try to minimize the risk of this ever happening again by visiting my classrooms ahead of time to make sure things are all in order.
It's huge!! As a Culinary Instructor, our classrooms need to resemble the kitchens in which the students will work. Equipment must be readily available and in good working order. Supplies must be present, so students aren't worried about ingredients, but process and result. Comfort...well, they'll be working in hot kitchens, so .... they're not always cool and breezy.
Phuong,
This role is critical for students to see. You are setting the standard for the profession and your responsibility as the learning leader.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
every role as an instructor is important. The biggest role is setting that good role model and to see the students following it and making a big change and difference in their life.
Benny,
This is so important because as you know the more students know about the real world they are going to be working in the easier their transition to it is going to be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
making the learning enviroment as close to the real thing gives my students an understanding on how they have to perform in the real world.
Kanidrus,
Right you are. This way they can focus on the content being shared and enhance their engagement in the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jason,
Good advice for instructors to follow as they set up their classrooms and labs. There needs to be a balance in how the environment impact the students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Gary,
The student should feel comfortable and geared to learn in the learning environment.
Kanidrus
During my first year of teaching at the elementary level, I noticed and learned that your classroom can be "too busy" and can also "not be busy enough." Having a blan classroom produces blan students. meaning, if your room is boring it can put students to sleep. Students need to be stimulated. Adversly, students can be over stimulated if the room is too "busy" with posters and colors that cover every inch of wall space. A rule of thumb when preparing your environment is to keep things light, pertinent, and evolving to match course content. this keeps students wondering what will be happening next.
it play a big role in keeping the class running smooth and keep the students in gaged.
