Hi Christina,
Thank you for those excellent suggestions for getting a feel of the teaching environment in which you find yourself. By using this simple check list instructors will find out what it is really like to be a student in that class setting.
Gary
I think one of the best ways to adapt your learning enviroment is to put yourself in the students shoes..literally. Sit in the desks and as another instructor to help you out by standing in the front of the room and talk in a "lecture" volume voice. You will be able to notice if there are distractions that will keep the students from getting the most from you lectures. Is there a glare? Does the heater or vent make noise? It the room to warm? Can they see the board? You will be surprised by what you find.
An example would be in the medical environment. If students are studying to be in the medical profession, they want their surroundings to reflect that profession. If they are working in a laboratory class, they want it set up like in an official medical facility. This not only gives the students the proper environment but it makes them feel they are really working in their field.
Hi Patricia,
Good comments. I am pleased to hear that your college's administrators realized the importance of a clean and inviting learning environment. Now that you have the room and visual supports around it you can concentrate on the learning that will occur inside of the classroom. I wish you good teaching.
Gary
I believe the learning environment plays a very large role in how well the students are going to learn. The environment has to be well done, however. Spend the money to frame your posters: (1) this shows you care about how your classroom looks and (2) protects your posters. My students have done better with tables and chairs opposed to desks. Everyone has room for their working materials and everyone can see, and I can see them as well. Additionally, after working with administration, I now have clean ceiling tiles and a paint job on the way and the students really respond to this and feel they are getting their money's worth out of their education.
Hi Walter,
I like your idea of the T-shirt. You may be onto to something there. If we could get the students to see that the reduced distractions really do make for easier learning.
Thanks for sharing your points I know they will benefit many other educators.
Gary
Hello Gary,
It's very important, as you said in the lesson, that the environment be student friendly and comfortable. For myself, reducing distractions is paramont. (That phrase would make a great tee shirt; REDUCED DISTRACTIONS = EASIER LEARNING).
The (improved) adapted environment could include; 1) Focused seating , where the instructor can see all the students and they him or her. 2) Clear, easily seen blackboard space, screens ect. 3) A quiet class room, isolated from shop noise (often an intrusion for us) and last but not least, isolation from folks walking through during class.
The classroom must be easy to work in, provide the students with a comfortable setting, and be free of distractions. In my school the students learn to use testing equipment which many times is used in an outside environment. In every class I take several days and move the classroom outside and have the students complete projects like they would normally do if they were working. It breaks up the everyday inside classroom atmosphere. It works very well.
I believe that the learning environment plays a big role in helping with the instructional process. I believe that the class room needs to be a comfortable learning environment so a learner feels free to asked questions and listen to lectures. I also believe that there are too many teacher/instructors that create their own problems. I try and put myself into the learner’s position and try and understand how to get my lectures and question across to them. A lot of times I am not as successful as I would like, but with a learning environment like mine I can at least try new things. I also have pictures of the projects, diagrams that I am lecturing on the walls to help learners piece together in their minds what I am talking about. I am also fortunate to be able to take my learners out to lab which is outside my door to help further build on the lectures with hands on instruction. This also helps with maximizing your learning environment being able to use all that your facilities have to offer.
Chuck Dugan
The environment is dependent on the needs of the students, it has to evolve and adapt as they do.
The learning environment plays a very important role in the learning process. The student should feel comfortable to ask questions with the threat of being humuliated or embarassed. The instructor plays a key role in crewating this type of environment by setting some ground rules.
I like to try to personalize the setting for the opening day. Whenever possible I will find ways to print the students names on material they will be receiving the first day. This allows me to establish a standard for what they will be creating and/or maintaining during the course. There also has to be a high level of physical organization in the learning environment which is maintained throughout the course. It is actually more important the the students see that the organization not only be there at the beginning of the course, but that it is maintained and returned to the original state of organization after each session. This then becomes part of their working habit which will add to their level of professionalism and pride in the job they do.
I'm an adjunct and do not always get the same classroom every semester, therefore I have to work with what is available. Like you, Mable, I've found that the semicircle setup instead of row chairs work to my advantage.
Dr. Meers,
Your right about having them move their heads and eyes to reset their brains. As a trial attorney I warn the students the first day that I like to move around. It keeps them on their toes and avoids them using the internet, IM, or reading other class materials, as they never know when I will be directly in front or behind them.
Prof Ferber
Hi Prof Ferber,
Good information. You are right about moving around and being inside of the learning square (the seating area of students). By you moving and moving of students you provide a break for the students as even moving their heads and eyes help them to reset their brains as you present your next point in a lecture. This breaks even though brief really help with the total learning process. Keep up the good work.
Gary
The learning environment plays an important role in the instructional process. Uncomfortable stressed, crowed, or distracted students will not learn as efficently and I feel will cause more distractions effecting the learning of the entire class. To maximize the instructional process I try to be relaxed in front of the class from day one, being stern only when needed. I feel that this communicated to the students that I am confident in myself and what I am teaching. If I make a mistake I admit it which shows I only human and show it's okay to make a mistake if we learn from it.
David,
You've hit on a subject near and dear to my heart. I have had just the opposite problem, the room is too warm and again, the students have a hard time paying attention. If your teaching like I am at night, there's nothing to do, except try to relocate at break!
Prof Ferber
Dr. Meers,
I think determining the level of ability for the students in the class is first on the list. If it is a Masters program class, the instructional process should be geared differently then if it is an undergraduate class.
Sometimes circle tables are conducive for teaching, other times, moving students from the last rows to the front works better. It all depends upon the number of students that I have and the level of the class. Either way, moving around and not staying at a lectern seem to work for me.
Prof Ferber
Take away the podium! Move around the classroom, change the arrangement of chairs and tables. Make you classroom unique and pleasant to sit in.
I think that for a students to learn he needs to be confortable, that way he will not be distracted, also not every class room are desing for the same pourpose. Make sure that the environment is the wrigt one wqor the class you are teaching.
