This topic reminds me of Interpersonal Communictation where it talks about the different types of noises experienced when engaging patients. The tempurature of the room, construction, or patients who experience pain are all examples of barriers to effective communication. So therefore, minimizing 'Noise' the trainging setting is equally important.
Hi Pavan - Thanks for your post to the forum. You shared a very comprehensive list of what makes a good learning environment. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
to keep a positive learning environment-
1. the room must be clan and tidyw with proper ventillation and areation.enough light to see clearly
2.things must be placed in their respective places ment for them.
3. communication with students should be polite and amicable.
4. guidelines must be set for class room behaviour and correspondance to allow proper interaction.
5. set targets and time limit to meet the goals.
6. instruction content must vary to suit various learning styles and student divide in gropu as teams will help to learning environent while they learn team work
7. clear instructions must be given wuth ready to help to enabnle students to preform task
8. the students must be assesed for the performance with encouragement and clear
guidelines to overcome doubts and lack of confidence.
I find that today's career school student, especially the younger ones, have very little patience for tech issues with classroom equipment. The younger students are so incredibly tech savvy that they blow us old folks away!
Students learn in a variety of ways and benefit from multiple learning environments. For example, students who prefer to read quietly might not benefit as much from a group activity.
Depending on the learning environment, students might thrive or become frustrated and discouraged. The key is to know your students learning preferences and offer a variety of options.
I think the classroom setting needs to be visually appealing. I like to keep posters that relate to the course I am teaching up and move them around occasionally just to keep it fresh. I also start my class every morning with a positive inspirational thought of the day that I leave on my board all day. Things to be organized and clean especially that the major part of cosmetology that we teach is sanitation, so I begin on the first day teaching the students new habits that will carry into the salon. I don't like to have too much going on that it will be distracting to the student but enough that they feel comfortable and eager to learn.
Hi Michael - Thanks for your post to the forum. I can see why ppts could be a problem. Still, you are doing a great job of varying your delivery!
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
With adult students, my first strategy is to let them know the requirements of the course and how to do well in it. I use a hybrid approach that includes both my presentations and their reading and work on their own. Accomodating all learning styles is a challenge, especially in a course that has no laboratory component so I try to find some sort of outside activity that is related to a topic of the course.
I am not a fan of PowerPoint presentations but not because they are not useful. Mainly, my objection is that the projector and screen are placed with, and right in front of, the whiteboard, which I use for much of my work. Seitching back and forth is a time-consuming distraction.
I have, however, used written notes, lecture, visuals and a few relevant movies to try to accomodate the various learning styles of my students.
Hi Barbara - Bravo- I totally agree - I call it "Death by Powerpoint"! Susan
The physical setting is a key aspect towards the success of a class. Form the level of comport, to lighting, to access to the instructors are all elements that need to be taken into consideration to enhance students interest and motivation.
I am fortunate in teaching Intro to Computer classes in a classroom with new computers and current software. But, I wanted to speak to the tendancy of Instructors to use the PowerPoint presentations that come with the textbooks. I feel that as Instructors, we should be going beyond what is "packaged" in the text, and there is nothing more guaranteed to put all students, including the visual learners, to sleep than the canned PPt presentations. I like to use them more as on outline of the information I need to cover, in my own way, during the class period.
Hi Kelli - Thanks for your post to the forum. You give some good advice to online instructors - it's too easy to get lazy! I remember particpating in a live online class where a cat kept walking over the instructor's desk, talking was going on in the background, and a dog was barking. It was unreal! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
The setting can make a huge impact on a students ability to learn. Visual learners need good lighting and sight lines for the board/overhead. Auditory learners can be distracted by white noise. Everyone can be thrown off by the temperature of the room if it is too high or low. The instructor should do everthing possible to adjust the learning environment for success. Organization of content and a planned delivery are also key to learning success.
I facilitate full-time online at various Colleges and Universities. One of which I conduct live/recorded online lectures. Before I begin I clear off my desk and make sure everything behind me (in camera view) is neat and tidy.
Not only should we be concerned with our surroundings but our appearance, tone in voice and our body languange should be included in with the physical setting. If I'm dressed sloppy, have a non-caring tone in my voice and do not utilize positive body image, then our students will be turned off.
Even though I facilitate online, all of these are still important. :)
Thank you,
Kelli
This becomes a challenge when teaching in a room that is used by many other instructors teaching very different types of subjects. We have very little ability to personalize the environment for our students. I teach English to students who all have laptop computers so I can have everyone log on to a certain website or email them images that can help 'set the stage' for the day's lesson. Also, I always have something written on the white board that they can think about as they get seated and boot up their computers.
The organization and cleanliness of the classroom sets the stage for the importance of the material that you are delivering. For example, if the student walked into a classroom and it was messy and cluttered, I think that would send a message that the instructor feels that way about the material.
I think the learning environment has a lot to do with how the student learns. But i believe the instructor plays a bigger role. I have taught in both the lab and the classroom and I have to say the Instructors form of delivery gains the student mind, Both Visual, Power point use of write board, Auditory but speaking to with them and not at them, by participation.
Physical settings can play a big part in a students ability to grasp the information that is being conveyed to them. For example, outside distractions can keep a students attention elsewhere. I find Lots of subject matter around the classroom either hanging on walls or for handouts helps keep students focused on the content being delivered. A clean non cluttered enviroment is also helpful
If a student does not feel comfortable in their environment it can have a dramatic affect. Often times when I have attended school the instructor would play a little bit of music while class was beginning which made us all more comfortable. You should additionally make sure there are plenty of seats, good lighting, and proper area for the students to take notes.
I totally agree. I teach culinary arts and a clean, organized lab sets a good tone for my young chefs. I must lead by example myself in the way I represent myself, but the overall environment can really set the tone of the class.
