Hi Ken,
You did an excellent job of responding. You gave a comprehensive picture of how you approach the classroom and your students. I commend you for the excellent work you are doing. By being aware of all of the factors within the learning environment both physical and cognitively you are providing instructional support at a very high level. Keep up the good work.
Gary
I think the learning environment is key. It can both aid and hinder learning. It can hinder learning my being overly noisey, disctracting, overly complex in the presentations, overly complex or confusing and boring. It can aid learning by being relaxed, challenging, organized and interesting. The classes I teach lean towards a combination of lecture and discussion. I try to elicit as much discussion as I can and encourage the students to elarn from one another. I also appreciate the many life experiences they bring into the classroom and how it applies to what they are studying.
The keytfo maximizing student learning for me is organization, making it clear what I expect from my students, presenting interesting lectures via use of humor and lots of practical examples, encouraging and eliciting discussion, and being available to help and answer questions. I also try very hard to establish relationships with my students so they will feel comfortable in approaching me with questions and concerns.
Overall, egarding the learning environment, I first look at the physical factors - room layout, comfortable temperature, relatively free from distraction, comfortable seating, auidio visual aids, etc. I then look at the materials and how to organize them. Then look at how best to present them. Then my personal instruction style. Then assessment. And then, after the first couple of classes, the individual needs of the students - how can I best relate to them. I am sure I am leaving out more but I gotta go and get my daughter. I hope this answers your question.
Ken
Hi Sara,
Great to read your last statement. Because it is soooooo worth it in spite of all the effort and stress that goes with the job. You have a great attitude and this I know is reflected into the classroom. Your students are fortunate to have you as their instructor. You are willing to invest the time it takes to help them be successful.
Gary
Maximizing the environment: Need to prepare for everything that is going on for that class. I find that difficult sometimes when I'm teaching 6-7 classes and so many are 4 hours long. Sudents get impatient (or out of "control"=hard to get settled down again ) if I have to go hunting for a powerpoint machine or video. Or if in a lab class....someone moved things to another room or used most of the supplies.(or heaven forbid=if something that was planned on suddenly doesn't work) The students view this as being unprepared and I think it lowers their respect/confidence level in their instructor. It takes a lot of extra effort and diligence to keep that step ahead=but it is sooo worth it.
Hi Anne,
I like this arrangement for my classes. The key for me as you mention is to be able to see each student directly. This really does help to bring everyone into the discussion.
Gary
Hello Dr. Meers,
The kitchen area where I teach can be stressful to students.
Learning where everything is can be a problem when gathering ingredients. Student checklists and printed learning suggestions are necessary.
I change the environment to the dining room when lecturing and a need for a table top high enough to write on is necessary. Here is where the "paperwork" can be filled out to help the creative process take place for some.
thx
I completly agree with the students in a semi-circle, although the way are classrooms are set up with larger tables it seems to work well to have the students bring the stools all around one table. Being able to look at each other during a discussion tends to encourage better responses as well as curtails any sort of outside conversations.
Hi Matt,
Welcome to color world. I am a big fan like you. I firmly believe it really does make a difference in attention and cognition.
Gary
I agree with regarding the use of color. I go out of my way to use different colored markers whenever I put a math problem on the board. I've been told by my students that it really makes the problem seem alive.
In my classes I find that if the environment is kind of "quirky", ie., if there are fun posters on the walls and maybe colorful papers and interesting looking books, magazines, etc. about the room that students are drawn into the classroom regardless of the learning. I think that color enhances creativity and generates energy which is important, especially to adult learners who are in night classes. I think any classroom environment which displays class projects is helpful to instruction, especially when there are different sections of the same class. Students see what other students in the same class (perhaps different teachers) are doing and they respond to the projects...positive and negative. I know I learn a great deal from seeing what my students feel about other classes.
Hi Fortuna,
I like your style. You are making the best of a very difficult situation. By understanding the environment you are making modifications that enable you to be successful with your students in spite of the setting. I hope you have a chance to move your class to a more suitable environment in the future. You won't know how to act in a quite setting after what you have been through.
Gary
I have had a lot of experience lately with the importance of a comfortable learning environment. I teach in a kitchen after the culinary classes take place, and I find the noise from the electric kitchen appliances as well as the dishwashing taking place next door, really affects the students. They seem to turn off to anything being discussed in class when the noice levels rise. Since changing the environment is not possible for the moment, I find that I need to plan interactive activities and minimize lecture to keep the class going. Everything from the type of chairs being used to the board size makes a big difference in the effectiveness of the lesson!
I think creating an environment that is comfortable physically and emotionally plays a big part in the instructional process. When students feel comfortable they are more likely to participate. I want my students to feel like we are in this together, where their opinion or questions are valued.
Ergonomic and aesthetic learning environment is essential to maximize the learning process.
Hi Samantha,
You are right about the learning environment needing to be supportive. Everything from the lighting to the seating arrangement it has to be in the best interest of the students and their learning. You have two strikes against you when you start the class if these things are taken care of. I have taught in some extremely challenging settings and have found that if I can keep the students focused on the outcomes we can survive the environment even though it is hard.
Gary
I think that my present learning environment is not the best in order to facilitate the instructional process. I have rows of desks. I often move the desks into a semi circle so the students are closer to me and also the environment is not as rigid. At times the classroom is very cold. This is just as bad as the room being very hot. Students get distracted by climate. The learning environment is more important than non-educators could ever imagine.
Hi Jayne,
This is so important. Students get tired during the course and forget they are making progress. By showing them how far they have come and the skills they have developed they get motivated to keep working hard in the course.
Gary
Hi Todd,
Getting students settled into the class is important and you are providing a way that the students can do this. I like to use food as common bond myself. Chatting a bit over a cup of coffee is an excellent way of developing respect and rapport with students.
Gary
Small successes over time help with student confidence and pride. I like to have students watch their progress and be pleased they have accomplished the goal.
making the student feel comfortable and enthusiastic is important - I provide coffee and light food
