The learning environment can make students feel part of the class or like an outsider. I like classrooms that aren't too long, because if they are long, students are far away from me. Those students often are not as engaged and tend to try to talk to each other more. (I like the classroom to be wider rather than long.) I also prefer chairs that can be moved around easily for small group work and rooms with windows. All of these things work towards providing a welcoming and comfortable learning environment. Some of these things we cannot control, but we may be able to work around them. For example, if I do end up with a long classroom, I often walk down the center aisle often, to get closer to those students sitting in the back of the room.
As a math instructor in a culinary school, I find it helpful to have a classroom that provides the room to move between and among the students.
Helping with a problem one-on-one is very effective as each student learns math at a different pace.
To me, the learning environment can make or break a class. When I taught face to face full time, we had an old electrical engineering lab that was made into a classroom, lab, two offices and a hallway. Basically walls were put up where walls did not belong. :-) The temperature was FREEZING in the classroom, literally a few times. It was, at one time, 45 degrees. That is not a conducive learning environment. When I have students sitting around with blankets and two sweatshirts, how are they supposed to pay attention to what I say?
The learning environment should be structured, friendly, and comfortable (not so comfy they can sleep, though). :-) It should be a place where the students welcomed and ready to learn. Online learning is no different. By providing welcome messages, greeting each student personally, and offering constructive feedback often, the student will soon find themselves at ease with the instructor and are more likely to participate.
Planning,Preperation,Proper set,up can only insure for proper,effecient teaching and learning
In our school, the environment is a huge part.
It closely resembles the environment that the students will be entering upon graduation and job placement.
To adapt an environment to maximize learning, the proper equipment must be present. The students should have at their hands everything they need to perform a task without interruption using equipment found in the job force. This way, they will also develop necesssary skills needed to operate the equipment.
I am an adjunct instructor for computer graphics, and my students spend most of their time facing their computer screens. It is important for them to be able to convey their work to colleagues, employers, and clients and many are quite shy. To help them interact with each other, I often employ team-generated games and projects as well as asking the more advanced students to help those who are having difficulties. This also helps build self-esteem.
Hi Vincent,
You make a good point about the learning environment and how important it is to student success. The key is to be aware of how you can provide the needed support at the most needed time.
Gary
Hi Kristine,
You last point is a very powerful one. The students know you are there for them. This kind of support is critical as they progress through the course.
Gary
Hi Lori,
I commend you for your efforts to make the online learning environment as comfortable as possible for your students. The personal touch is what keeps student engaged in the learning process.
Gary
Hi Erik,
I really like what you are doing with your class environment. The variety is great! You are moving your students around physically plus giving them breaks mentally. All this adds up to a positive learning setting that offers extensive ways to learn the course content.
Gary
There are a lot of things that we can do within the learning environment to help in the instructional process. Depending on the tools that are offered, we can add additional components within the course to help manage the course better. For example, chat or IM features within the learning environment could help individuals work synchronously.
The learning environment is critical for students success. Having a well organized class, a current syllabus, files that can be easily loaded, up to date software makes it easier for the students to learn the material in the course.
The learning environment in the classroom can, and often is, the difference between success and failure.
In my online classroom, my main objective to is make the students feel that they are being taught by a real, live human being. In my staff profile, I post a picture as well as personal and professional details about myself. In the icebreaker forums during the first week, I respond to each student individually. For each assignment, I provide detailed feedback using Word's electronic comments feature so the students can tell that I read their submissions carefully. (I love that feature!)
It all comes down to letting the students know that I really am there for them and am paying close attention to their participation in the class.
My preferred learning environment is in a laboratory, such as in biology or chemistry courses, where students share a bench and combine hands-on resources with lecture. Of course this is not applicable to many types of courses. This set-up creates a team-work environment and engages multiple senses.
I think the learning environment plays a big role in both the instructional and learning process. The online environment can seem rather cold and distant, so the instructor needs to reach out to students and make sure he/she is accessible. I teach online, and I have to work a little harder to make sure that I seem like a "real person" to my students. I've adapted the online learning environment by having extended office hours and by reaching out to students via email and voice messages.
The environment must be condusive to learning. One basic example could be as simple as room temperatue. Too hot and students can't stay focused and fall asleep. Too cold and they can't focas either.
I think the learning environment if fun and the students know they can feel comfortable to participate with no fear of judgment. I think it is important to use different learning style in your environment to maximize learning.
Hey Dr. Meers,
I think the most appreciated environmental support I give my students is the freedom to change the class to their benefit, or, to not use the class room at all.
Since most learning takes place outside the class environment, I try to set up days where my students need to find resources to work on their exercises.
In situations like this, the library becomes the class room, and all sorts of questions are asked. Such as "Where should we work", "How do I find information on...", "Are we allowed to work as a team", "What did you mean by" etc.
By changing the environment, a new dynamic presents itself. Where the lecture and reviews take place in a traditional classroom, the applied learning becomes fun when it is informal and students can rely on each other as well as the instructor.
On days where the class room must change into something else (a press for example), I like to have my students start with an exercise that's related to the lesson, but fun and silly.
The folding of a press-man hat is a good ice breaker and a bit of a challenge. It also sets up a good transition into the demonstration.
For the demonstration I ask all the students to get out of their chair and stand in a semi circle around the desk the materials are on. Then, one material at a time I try to involve their other senses. The feel of polished copper compared to a piece that has been etched, the different viscosity and smell of various inks and oils, the sound of a burin as it scrapes across the surface of a softer metal or plexiglass.
To sum it up, I believe my students appreciate variety in the environment.
Thanks!
Erik
Hi Erik,
Right you are about the necessity of setting up a learning environment that is supportive and comfortable for students. What have you found to be the most appreciated environmental support that you give your students?
Gary
i feel it is very important that the class room and all prep for instruction is done at least fifteen minutes before class start. this gives the student a positive impression.
