Hi Sandra,
Thank you for sharing your strategy for keeping online students engaged. The more mental and visual connections you can create the higher the learning retention is going to be. Well done.
Gary
Students need to feel comfortable and have the ability to grasp the concepts in their learning environment. I teach online courses so I try to provide many diagrams and images in an effort to create an environment similar to the live classroom. I try to be very visual in my online classroom.
The learning environment is in my opinion the practice field of the educational experience. The better the environment the more prepared the students will be in transfering their learned skills in the workplace following graduation.
I also think, the more realistic the learning environment is with respect to the lab experiences, the more credibility it gives the actual school.
the learning environment should be as close to a copy to what the students will see in the field after they have completed the course
If the students are not physically comfortable, they will not be able to adequately focus on the presentations.
It is essential! As music faculty teaching without a keyboard for students to look at and experience or speakers for sound experience, notes on a page are just that. Black and white dots that look like a blotter test in the psychology department. In my field, stale, straight rows and bland environments take away from the experience and learning process of my students.
Absolutely on the money. Professionalism within the student population is very different in this era as compared to when I attended school. Now with the vast availability and accessibility of technology within the palm of your hand,students tend to be taking great advantage of this especially during class. I believe that this must be addressed prior to the start of class and impose restrictions upon them. By not doing so, it may very well transfer the behavior to the workplace.
I think it's important to consider the "mood" of the classroom when talking about learning environment. Traditionally, I think we look at the room arrangement, temperature, available technology such as smartboards & blackboard, internet access, etc. But as instructors we set the "mood" for learning and enthusiasm is hands down the number one, I think, tool we have that grabs the attention of the students.
The learning environment plays a huge role in what level of understanding actually happens. I love taking on a constructivist approach in my classroom, but this definitely changes the environment because students do not just absorb their experiences; they actively try to interpret them, make sense of them, and integrate what they’ve learned into constructed understandings.
I believe that taking on this type of approach in teaching is beneficial to the students. If we can scaffold our students and prompt them to think and use cognitive reasoning we will be better teachers. The only thing we must keep in mind is that when taking this approach a teacher must understand that the atmosphere of the classroom is different. It isn’t the typical quiet lecture where you raise your hand. It may be noisy, and active. It is important that when taking this approach you have an administration that admires and supports this type of learning.
I look at the word "environment" as a broad term. I typically teach business classes, and it's hard to make the class room feel like an office or conference room. Depending on the size of the class, sometimes I will move the table so that they are sitting in more of a conference table manner. I also try to mimic the current trend of working in teams by assigning projects and assignments that require the student to work together.
I believe students in a learning environment should be taught professionalism. Often students behave rudely, by texting or using laptops during discussion. These behaviors if not taught to be stopped during class, may transfer to the workplace.
I am a clinicial instructor, so you might say the learning inviroment is the real world modified for student learning
The learning Environment effects what and how much the student comprehends. I have always found lots of windows to be a big distraction in a classroom setting. Students also seem to be more awre of the temperature than most of us instructors probably because they are sitting and we are moving around. Having plenty of space to work is especially important as the classes I teach require very large books and usually at least 2 if not 3 books at one time. Lighting and setup of the classroom is important - if computers are involved you have to be careful about glare and they should be in a position that the instructor can see the screen so that students are working and not surfing the net if they are not supposed to be
I agree with you. I have plenty of experiences where the learning environment did not mimic the real world of course there is nothing like being in the field and getting the uncontrolled environment atmosphere. I like idea of students going on field trips in their area of study just to get an idea of what the culture and atmosphere will be like.
A big one if they do not learn they will not be able to finish because they will never learn.
Students cannot be as successful as possible without a learning environment that is conducive to focusing on the lessons, activities, and material. Of course, every person has his/her own requirements for an optimal environment, but there are many basic necessities that can be addressed. These include comfort with the instructor and classmates, good lighting and seating, a moderate temperature, regular breaks, etc. For an online class, some additional basics are that students should feel comfortable using the platform, be able to easily access the materials, and feel that there is a real person facilitating the class. In any class there should be a balance between different types of activities to maintain interest, and consistency in teaching style and strategies so students know what to expect to some degree. Overall the environment should be professional, yet comfortable and inviting. The learning environment also reflects on students' image of their school; having pride in one's institution is inspiring and motivating.
Students need to have a secure, comfortable setting in order to focus on the presented materials
The learning environment is vital to clear delivery of course content. Distractions such as large windows, noisy neighboring classrooms, or IT problems with classroom equipment can greatly impede an instructor's attempt to deliver a clear message. It is the instructor's responsibility to keep these distractions to a minimum to facilitate her students' educational experience.
yes. I agree that the learning environment should be as close to reality as possible. That way our students are not shocked when they arrive at thier first assignment post graduation.
Hi Stephanie,
I am sure your students really appreciate your creating this almost like the real setting setting. This makes their transfer to the real world spa less traumatic.
Gary
