Creating a "positive" learning environment might be the most crucial factor in achieving what might be described as a successful class. I define positive in a few ways: 1) physical space, 2) culture of learning courtesy, and 3) comfort with the instructor.
I am convinced that the classroom itself sets the tone for the way students interact with their classmates and the instructor. I agree with the educational critic who viewed the classroom as an "arena." In this space, instructors and students engage in a sophisticated and sometimes complex rehearsal of ideas. In subtle ways both the instructor and students "play" off one another. One important prop in this exercise is the table. I love to teach in classrooms that have tables where two or more students can sit together. I no longer like desks. Desks have the capacity to isolate students, and in a subconscious way, the desks create the context of students as "islands." Tables, on the other hand, force students to interact with one another. Tables make students (whether they like it or not) pay attention to how other students are learning. In this way, students create the capacity (and hopefully) desire to learn from and learn with each other.
In addition to the significance of the physical space, students must believe that they have the opportunity to "voice" their ideas, concerns, questions, and oddities. When students feel comfortable with expressing their satisfaction, dissatisfaction, and any other concerns, they learn better and deeper. When the opposite is true, the class environment becomes dull and stale. As a result, I believe it is important to establish from the beginning the culture of courtesy. That is to say, students must know that we are individuals with different perspectives, ideas, thoughts, questions, and ways of learning. So it is important for each of us in this arena to respect and appreciate how others “see†things. I always try to ensure that students feel comfortable speaking out in class. If a student violates this culture of professional courtesy, I try to handle that violation instantly. Students appreciate a respectful environment.
My last point, which builds from a culture of courtesy and respectability, is the levels of comfort students have with the instructor. Students must believe that the instructor is approachable and willing to listen to their concerns. I did not say that the instructor must emend established classroom policies when students see them as challenging. I am saying that students must believe that if they have located an inconsistency or some form of unfairness or injustice in the class, the instructor must be able to listen to those concerns. In fact, when an instructor listens, it gives him/her the opportunity to let students know why things are set up the way they are. In addition, if a student has located an inconsistency, the instructor must be willing to adjust the policy. Students appreciate being able to contribute to their own success, and knowing they have an instructor who pays attention to their feelings reinforces the level of trust students need to be successful in the class. I must add this caveat before I conclude: instructors do not need to be liked by students to create a context for students to feel comfortable approaching them. As long as students know that the instructor is fair, they will work through the drama of the class (despite not liking the instructor). I encourage faculty members not to strive to be liked by students but strive to be approachable and fair.
Hi Jeff,
I would suggest that you look at material from the National Science Teachers Association. This professional organization has published numerous articles about measuring and improving the teaching in science laboratories. They have several articles that focus on application of concepts in lab settings.
I conducted an study with high school physics students in lab settings vs lecture settings. I used 200 students in the lab setting and 200 in the lecture setting. I assessed their multiple intellingences using an assessment I developed called Talent Key (www.micubed.com) and then placed those students that were more verbal and math/logic in the lecture classes and the spatial/musical/interpersonal in the lab settings. Results were that the students that processed information/knowledge through verbal/math/logic did better in the lectures and the reverse for those with the spatial/musical/interpersonal intelligences. The results of the study was published in the November,2002 issue of the THE SCIENCE TEACHER. You might find it interesting reading.
Hope this is of help to you. Let me know if you have any further questions.
Gary
Dr Meers,
One thing that ED101 has made me realize is that the courses we teach are less classroom courses and much more laboratory courses. I have always termed them workshops so our students realize that it will be very hands on and not heavy lecture. But the term workshop always implies a shorter, lighter, more focused set of objectives than what we are actually offering. We are really are a science laboratory with keyboards instead of test tubes.
Do you have any recommendations on material I could investigate about laboratory learning environments. I'm sure there must be some interesting reading about them compared to more traditional learning environments.
Thanks
Jeff
A huge one, you're learning environment needs to be structured yet friendly. It has to show students you know what you're doing and that first impression of the classroom can make or break a new student. Having confidence in your work/teaching environment will give the student confidence.
Hi Stewart,
Good list. You are right on target with your list. This is why as instructors we must look around and see the learning environment through student eyes so we can plan accordingly.
Gary
I think the learning environment plays a pivotal role in several areas.
1) The environment can influence for the positive/negative the desire to learn.
2) The environment can inspire curiousity and imagination. (I am teaching in the media field so the later is naturally essential)
3) The environment can reinforce your professionalism and how important it is to you for the student to be able to learn.
Those are just a few of the many things I can think of that lead me to conclude that the learning environment plays a key role in the instructional process.
Hi Andres,
Thank you for your excellent comments. I believe strongly that the instructor does much to create the learning environment, meaning the atmosphere or climate. If instructors believe in what they are doing and keep motivated about delivering the course content then the students will be engaged as well. I have taught in some very difficult situations, poor equipment, paint peeling, floor buckled and yet we had a great class because we as a learning group cared about each others' success. You are right about the balance between state of the art equipment and cost. As long as we can develop rapport with our students and illustrate the basic principles on the equipment then we can succeed.
The learning environment must entail the affective domain as well as the physical setting in order to be most effective.
Gary
Hello again Gary,
I want to ad to your reply to Dale. While I agree the learning environment is important, I side strongly with your other responder that the instructor can compensate for the lack of the latest equipment. It depends so much on what is being taught of course. I mean, I don't know how happy students would be if they have to imagine how to use software, instead of actually using it in a lab environment. On the other hand if I'm teaching a Windows class, I don't need every machine to be Intel Core duo equiped. I have taught in very well equiped classrooms, and ended up not using the technology deployed there, but rather keeping students engaged in the lab process. Sometimes the hi tech gear can actually get in the way, or become a distraction. The other point that I would like to comment on is that of retooling the classroom or equipment to suit the class. It can prohibitively expensive to equipe classrooms with even nominal hardware. There will allways be cutting edge gear coming out, and schools have to strike a balance between costs, and current materials.
Andrés
The learning enviroment is more the "atmosphere" rather than the physical. I have been in a state of the art school (not for very long) and the instructor did not know the materials, nor could could he care less if the students learned anything. The physcial enviroment needs to be clean, comfortable. More importantly, the student needs to feel secure that he or she could ask questions without being made to feel foolish because of lack of knowledge or language. Praising students, but never, nerver,never reprimand students publically should always be done.
Encourage all students to assist other students after school or whenever they can.
The learning enviroment should not be a strenuous one, but one that the students can enjoy while they are learning.
This is a great question, and I believe the classroom environment weighs very heavily on the instructional process. Not only will a quality learning environment help the class, it will also aid in the comfort of the instructor. All of these things begin to benefit one another to produce a memorable class experience...
I believe a positive learning environment plays an important role in
the instructional process. One essential and very important aspect to
learning is classroom interaction. I seek to create an interactive
environment through a variety of methods. I try to involve my students
when teaching, for example, by asking for their ideas during the
solution process of a problem. At the beginning of each class, I ask
students some questions on the concepts learned in the
previous classes and answer any questions from
students on homework assignments. Sometimes, I ask students, to come
to the board to solve problems during tutorials. In this way, students
develop the ability to present and defend their ideas to large groups.
Also, I find it beneficial to ask students to
discuss/solve problems among themselves during
lectures and tutorial sessions. This “teamworkâ€
approach is not only helpful to students to learn
complex material faster, but is also a
confidence-building mechanism. The experiences of the students in
these tutorial sessions extend over into study groups outside the
class.
I believe a positive learning environment plays an important role in the instructional process. One essential and very important aspect to learning is classroom interaction. I seek to create an interactive environment through a variety of methods. I try to involve my students when teaching, for example, by asking for their ideas during the solution process of a problem. At the beginning of each class, I ask students some questions on the concepts learned in the
previous classes and answer any questions from
students on homework assignments. Sometimes, I ask students, to come to the board to solve problems during tutorials. In this way, students develop the ability to present and defend their ideas to large groups.
Also, I find it beneficial to ask students to
discuss/solve problems among themselves during
lectures and tutorial sessions. This “teamworkâ€
approach is not only helpful to students to learn
complex material faster, but is also a
confidence-building mechanism. The experiences of the students in these tutorial sessions extend over into study groups outside the class.
Hi Jennifer,
Great ideas. I would appreciate receiving your Brain Gym exercises. I am always looking for additional "tools" I can put into my instructional "toolbox". That is for me the fun of teaching. Learning about new ways I can engage and motivate my students as their develop their skills.
Thanks much for your sharing.
Gary
Hi Gary and Jason,
I, too, instruct in the evening sometimes. I also teach four hour blocks in the afternoon....anatomy and physiology no less. Much like Gary's comment, I look at my presentation being more of a performance. In truth, the best days of class are when we've laughed together, relaxed together, and, yes, also navigated pure lecture together. I interject comical power points and/or handouts to simply give their brain a break. Perhaps the best to date is simply taking them through some brain gym exercises....great for firing the cortex and getting them back 'in the classroom'. These exercises are applicable to ANY classroom where keeping attention can be a challenge. I can email you my info re: Brain Gym exercises in a word attachment if you like.
Hi Tina,
Well stated on all accounts. Humans are in need of comfort and support, both physically and programatically. If we instructors will attend to these two areas both our lives and the lives of our students will go better.
Gary
I believe that the learning environment plays an equal role with the instructor. If the classroom is full of the equipment needed to teach that class and you do not need to leave the room to get supplies/equipment thats needed for the lecture, then that helps the students. I also beleive that if you are in a room with little or no distractions, it is beneficial to the students as well. My students were taking an exam and the heat ducts kept making noise and it was very distracting to the students who were taking the exam and they let me know about it. The teacher is also very important. If you have a teacher that relates to the students and shows them that they are important and that the teacher cares about them, it helps them to feel more comfortable in class.
Hi Alfredo,
You are right about setting the tone for the environment. It is up to you to create a positive and working setting for your students. Many times instructors get so used to their classrooms/labs they don't see how shabby they have become. All of us need to keep a sharp eye out for how we can make our setting the best it can be for our students.
Gary
Hi John,
Right you are. We, as instructors need to be aware of how the physical setting for out class looks. What are the little things we can do to make the setting inviting? These little things can go a long ways in terms of helping the students to feel comfortable and learning ready.
Gary
I believe the learing enviroment plays a very important role when getting the subject/material across to your students. So I believe it is my responsibility to have equipment working correctly and to get rid of any distractions.
The learning environment reinforces the concept of school or college. The formal, physical environment is something that students can indentfy with. As an instructor, it is my responsibility the make the environment conducive to learning.
