Hi Annie,
Clustering students together helps them to view themselves more as a learning group. You are doing a good job of that with your physical setup for seating.
Gary
The students need to feel relaxed and not afraid to ask questions. I do small group work and discussions, I find the reserved student has an easier time opening up in a small group.
One time I let a student "go off" in the classroom because she did not like the learning team she was assigned to. I let her vent and then advised that my decison stood. She stayed but quit the class. Next time the student will go outside the class room with me and we will discuss the issue(s) in private.
I belive the environment directly affects student interaction and learning directly. I teach small classes, generally btwn 4 and 11 students. The classroom is set up to hold up to 25 students. I find that if I ask them to group together towards the front of the room instead of scattered thoughout,there is more student interaction and stronger student relationships.
Hi Gary,
Well said. You have addressed the critical elements of a supportive learning environment. If students feel comfortable and supported they are going to concentrate more on the subject matter.
Gary
Hi Marie,
I teach from 4 until 7 pm and then from 7 until 10 pm. This teaching time frame deals with the exact issues you bring up in your forum comments. We instructors have to have activities that get the students engaged and the blood flowing so their brains can be engaged. I go approximately 15 minutes have an activity or group work, and then repeat the process. This way I keep giving the students learning breaks and I can focus their attention on the content better.
Gary
Hi Jay,
You are correct in your observations and comments. By using the students' own experiences you are engaging them in learning process and helping them to become invested in the class. This is a key retention component.
Gary
Hi Rhonda,
Excellent description of how to set the stage for maximum student learning. Each component contributes in a unique way to the total learning picture, thus they all have to be well planned and organized.
Gary
I think it plays an important role, especially in my program. We are expected to provide students with state of the art workstations (where everything works correctly). Also, the classroom needs to be arranged to give students a certain amount of "personal space" while still focusing the arrangement on the front of the room to see the whiteboard, video screen or hear audio examples.
To create an environment conducive to creativity, we use room darkening shades, freestanding as well as overhead lighting, and areas designed for collaboration and group work. If students feel they have their "own" workstation, and feel comfortable in class, they are much more apt to focus on the course content and the learning objectives.
This is such a great point. When teaching adult learners is is so important to remember that they also have an excellent experience base that can contribute to class learning.
The learning environment is critical - even to the point of recognizing the time of day the class takes place. Knowing that your class is at 6:00 pm should force you as the instructor to plan ways to "wake up" the students - whether they are coming from a day at work, or their evening meal, they need to be fresh in order to maximize the instructional process. Having a short game or exercise to introduce your topic for the evening will allow your students to "regroup" if you will to settling in to the evening's objectives. It should be something simple concise and fairly quick - sort of having the same effect as a brisk walk.
I allow my students to actively participate in discussions; and encourage their input and feedback. I like to focus on contemporary issues in business; while theory is very important, however, I perfer to draw from their own professional experiences in concert with discussions questions and case studies.
In my experience, students are more engaged and contribute more in discussions and the overall learning process.
The learning environment plays a major role in the instructional process. Regarding physical environment, students learn less efficiently if, for example, they are too cold, uncomfortably seated, or if lighting is too bright or not bright enough. Psychologically, an environment that is hostile or intimidating would impede the sharing of creative thought.
The perceptions of environment, however, are as individual as the students themselves, so the instructor should facilitate group input and make adjustments as necessary. Temperature can often be controlled and students can be seated where they can best see and hear. As for the psychological environment, it is the role of the instructor to make the classroom a safe forum for the sharing of opinions and ideas.
Hi Lola,
Well said concerning the learning environment. There needs to be a balance between all of the environmental factors and the instructional delivery. A level of trust and comfort needs to be in place for each student.
Gary
When students are in a supportive and comfortable learning environment, they are more easily able to focus on the information they are expected to learn and apply. The learning environment can be adapted to ensure that informational resources are easy to see, that students feel welcome (and expected) to participate and to be sure the lighting, temperature and overall environment is comfortable and appropriate to learning.
Hi Edward,
Great check list of things to do in getting ready for class. The point you make about testing the technology is a good one. We need to make sure to do the testing to avoid problems later. If you are like me technology hates me so it will do anything it can to fail me. So I have to check and recheck it over and over again and I still hold my breath to see if it will work when I need it.
Gary
I teach technology driven courses (computer programming). I have taught the subjects where the students work on a circular table, where each student faces the other students. I have taught where the students are lined in rows. All of the students have laptops. The interaction between students is far better in a circle. However residential discussion can be stimulated through a discussion board when students are sitting in straight lines.
I have taught residential and on-line. I have found the liveliest discussions occur when students interact via the discussion board, while at the same time they can interact face-to-face.
Hi Rulon,
Well said in terms of your describing a supportive and inviting learning environment. I to like color and "stuff" that helps to engage the students in the learning process. I want the classroom to welcome the students.
Gary
Hi Sabrina,
You make a number of very good points about being prepared for your class and the demonstrations you are going to be conducting. To me the even more powerful point is the one you made about having more time to spend with your students due to your preparation. This is something that I really enjoy doing. Chatting with my students as they get settled in for the day is a essential part of my teaching. By having everything laid out I can focus on the students and not have to be chasing something down at the last minute.
Gary
I really believe that a "Learning Environment," like any other environment , sets the stage for our participation in the desired activity.
How we feel (how we're impacted) when we walk into
the space we'll be learning in, has the power to open or close us to the potential of such learning.
Recognizing this, it's critically important that educators create a supportive/respectful/energetic "place" where optimal learning is encouraged and rewarded!!
