Hi Dennis, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, I also try to get that "face-to-face" interaction as often as possible! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
As a writing/speaking/literature teacher I find that small groups and face to face contact is often quite beneficial. If possible, having students sitting is circle or facing each other is optimum for promoting discussion. Student often gravitate toward facing each other, even in large-group discussions, so I believe this face to face setting is crucial to get students to engage with others and not only with the teacher. This way they can learn from each other.
Hi Tiffany, Thanks for your post to the forum. At my college our faculty development program actually has a module titled "Burn the Podium!" Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I am an instructor for a Vet Tech program and we teach in a classroom equipped with microscopes, blood analyzers, radiograph machines, etc. I believe teaching students in this environment adds excitement and helps with motivation.
I think it has a huge impact, even with adult learning. I try to remind myself not to always stand behind the desk or podium and to move aroudn the room to engage students.
Hi Jeff, Thanks for your post to the forum. I agree, we need to model the professional environment that we will expect our students to create in their careers. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
The setting is the medium by which the information and instruction flows through. It is very important. If the setting is not balanced it will distract students away from the instruction and ultimately retention.
Wayne, Absolutely- in your classes the physical setting is crucial! I remember a fre in my high school chemistry lab - very scary! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Being a chemistry teacher and working in the laboratory, I find the physical setting extreamely important. Everything needs to be in its place with enough workspace to allow students to perform their experiments without knocking another students experiment over. Additionally, I find that the physical setting is important for the safety of the students.
Hi Lisa, Thanks for the post to the forum. The classroom that you describe is certainly ideal - I wish that we could all have access to such a setting all the time! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Drieca, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are certainly attuned to the needs of your students and lucky that you can actually control your classrooms' temperature! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Helen, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, we must always remember that as teachers we are role models and as you mention, it is important that we model a positive attitude. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
This is a positive learning technique. If you take pride in your environment, students will see that you take pride in your teaching as well.
I believe the physical setting is very important to students in their learning environment.
I like a classroom that facilitates all of the students learning styles.
For example, an overhead projector and screen is important for Visual and Auditory learners.
Tools in the classroom such as lab materials or computers enable the kinesthetic learner to have hands-on experiences.
Posters and bulletin boards in the classroom help to draw students into the lesson and stimulate discussions.
One thing I attempt to do as an instructor is to make sure my students are comfortable in the classroom. My classes may vary in size from 6 to 16. The first thing I do is adjust the temperature...arrange seating that is comfortable and I make sure most are happy.I have a sense of humor and i am a talker1 so far, my students welcome that. I have learned from some of my students that they prefer a quiet class and them some of them enjoy the rowdy! No matter the case, i attempt to make sure all are comfortable with the surroundings....it helps to keep them attentive to my instruction and lecture.
One of the role of instructor is Motivator. The instructor should use any possible opportunities in the class to deliver the positive attitude to life, the positive attitude to learning, to solve problems in their life. I found students really like the positive tone and climate you tried to deliver to the students beyond the teaching objective.
Hi Brian - Thanks for your post to the forum. I myself find it difficult to concentrate in a distracting environment and as you mention it is important to create a professional setting that they hopefully will replicate in their careers. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I teach in an audio engineering school and find that the more organized our classroom looks, the distraction level stays low. Combine this with the ease of finding materials (thereby reinforcing the theme of organization) and keeping students focused is much easier. It also validates our belief that professionalism can be conveyed in everything you do.
Hi Thao - I completely agree! It really distracts me if the environment of the classroom is not organized. Susan
For me personally, a messy setting is distracting and I'm unable to focus until my setting is organized. I like to have my classroom clean so that there are no distractions for students during class. This way, there is one less excuse for them not to pay attention during lecture.
