classroom envirnoment
to facilitate the learning, classroom envirnoment is one most important issue to care about.
Elinore,
this is a great point & really highlights the importance of that positive classroom environment.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
The environment of a classroom is very important-if students do not feel comfortable, safe, excited etc...they will not learn as well. I make sure my classroom is exciting to keep the students' attention. Even things like the temp come in to placy-if they are too cold or too hot, they students may not pay attention as well as they would if they were comfortable.
In my class room there are 12 florescent lights it’s like walking into a tanning booth, I shut off more than half this power consuming distractions every day. My students also agree that it is way too bright and that with all the lights it gives them a headache. Also when I show a video I don't have to shut off any lights.
Tracey,
and the consistency really is key to setting the right classroom environment & truly helping our students to know what is expected of them. This helps to reduce uncertainty so they are better prepared to learn.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Classroom management is also important and it starts at the begining of a course to ensure class expectations so everyone feels comfortable and everyone follows the same rules.
Andrew,
great point & to carry that metaphor further, we need to help our students make the classroom & subject their "home field." This way they will have the "home field" advantage.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I love this response. I feel that if students are not comfortable they lack interest, are going into a lesson unprepared and more unwilling to learn. We all thrive off of our environment and you see that in our everyday lives. A good example is sports. Not to get off the subject, but when teams are focused a group and place their mindset on a certain goal they can accomplish great things, however when a home team plays and has the same mindset they will usually win. Why? Because they are more comfortable with their surrounding environment.
Araceli,
this is a great comment. We want to be encouraging & helpful as we point our students in the right direction on assignments/projects, etc.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Encouragement followed by a few ideas for project always had a positive result in my class.
Within our classroom we display student projects and replace them when the new quarter students bring in their assigned projects. It allows for a constant learning change in the classroom. Our Program Director also started a gratitude board by using large post-it paper. The students come in every class period and write one to two words or a whole sentence about something they are grateful for. This allows for such a positive and refreshing start to each new day.
Craig,
this is a great point that's often overlooked. This tells the students that we are professionals who care about their success.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
A properly arranged, clean, and comfortable setting helps to aleve some of the concerns when students are starting a new course.
Thomas,
yes while the content clearly is important, those environmental factors can really help remove barriers & build bridges for learning.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Ideal class room envirnment is definitly a factor in learning . It is a congenial factor not only for the students but also forthe instructors and without which learning becomes a mess
Bob,
these little items can be great anticipatory items as it gets the students excited & also helps them realize "I can do it."
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
The room should show what students are going to learn about,. Sometimes placing pictures or previous student pojects help.
I fully agree in every classroom setting we need to learn the students first and then learn to teach what will best benefit the students
it sometimes becomes difficult to manage students with different capabilities and interests in learning , I always go for something which may satisfy both
Hank,
this is definitely a challenge. I try to find some common element--maybe it's the reason for them to be at the school & studying what they're studying. This can provide a common ground to work from.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
