Hi Lisa,
A great list of how to set up a learning environment that is support of diverse learning. By offering a "buffet" type of instruction you enable students to learn within their learning preference. This also lets you be creative in your planning and delivery.
Gary
My kitchen very claen. very organized. I always ready for demo. I have many demo ready keep student busy. Student love to see busy kitchen.
Rich,
I encourage you not to discount the leaning environment. While I do believe that people are capable of learning anytime, anywhere, studies have shown the learning environment absolutely has a direct impact on learning. In addition, I will share a personal experience.
Imaging a set of average to slightly overweight adults being forced to utilize chairs, tables, and workstations meant to support students in an elementary school environment. This was the setting for my cohort as I completed my Ed. S.
We met monthly for 20 hours per week in this inadequate environment for two years. After about the first meeting or two, people starting bringing in their own chairs, but still, the table and computer workstations were very low, causing many of us to experience back pain.
By the second month of the program, many people dropped out due to the extremely incompatible conditions of our learning environment. I stayed the course because I was willing to buy the necessary items to deal with the situation. Keep in mind that at this time, Online Ed. S. programs were not available, or I would have gladly chosen this route for convenience.
Anyway, I ferried my adult-size chair back and forth for two years, and I also ended up buying a folding table to meet my needs. The point I worked to make my learning environment more conducive to my needs because I could not pay attention when I was so uncomfortable in those tiny plastic chairs and slumped over those little tables for hours at time.
These are just some thoughts for you to ponder.
Lisa Matthews
Dr. Meers,
The learning environment plays and important role in the instructional process. If the environment is not conducive to learning, the learner is set up for failure from the start. For example, letÕs say a class is completely dependant upon computers with reliable Internet access. Computers must be well maintained, and Internet access must be reliable to serve learnerÕ needs.
In this same situation, the learning environment could be adapted to maximize the instructional process in the following ways:
By allowing students to share knowledge and complete learning outcomes by setting up learning pairs, groups, or teams to work together to complete learning objectives.
By paring direct instruction with self-directed learning activities to promote autonomous learning.
By assessing each student individually for group work accomplishments.
By addressing the needs of transforming, performing, and conforming learners.
Lisa Matthews
Hi Rachel,
Right you are. It is amazing how some little thing related to the environment can set things off balance in relation to learning.
Gary
Hi Andrea,
This is why balance is so important in relation to the environment. Everything from lighting to temperature has to be in balance so the students will focus on the course not the conditions. Once they get the feeling for the environment they will settle in and be ready to learn.
Gary
The enviroment for learning is so important as if it is not set right, students will not focus and in turn will be unable to succeed. As instructors we want ALL our students to succeed and creating the right enviroment and the vibe.
Hi Thomas,
Thank you for sharing this idea even if you can't find or remember the book. The idea is clear and very understandable. I know it will be of help to other instructors.
Gary
Hi Gretchen,
Thank you for sharing your plan for having a learning environment that is supportive to the learning of your students while reducing the distractions. This way your students can come in and focus on learning immediately.
Gary
Hi Jeffrey,
Good class management. You have found a balance between the physical and cognitive aspects of your classroom and the learning that occurs within it. I commend you for your approach to keeping the negative to a minimum. You are right it will take over in no time if not dealt with.
Gary
Hi Brenna,
I think plants add a nice touch. They reflect your personality and how you want the educational environment to be. I am sure this approach is very supportive for your students.
Gary
The learning environment is very important.
We have very large windows viewing the main hallway and I often see students watching waht my class is doing. This can be very distracting to a student who lacks confidence. I usually pull down the shade to block most of the window.
The temperature of the room can also be distracting. Too hot or too cold and the students can't concentrate.
Equipment or lack of can be another issue and that depends largely on the size of a given class.
We have to do all that we can to make the environment comfortable and condusive to learning.
Hi Christopher,
Let's start with the coffee. This is a personal choice to have it or not. I happen to be a coffee person so I have it in my class. In addition, I bring in popcorn when we are watching a DVD since we are having "movie night". Little things like that really help to integrate the students into the class. Other instructors would not think of having food or drink in the classrooms and that is ok as well. These kinds of things fit into my instructional style and if they do yours go for it. They won't distract and if you find them do so you can not do them the next course phased.
I am a big fan of toys, period. Physics-related toys to me sound great since they can take some of the fear out of physics. Anything you can do along these lines to help the students see applications that can be made with physics in their lives should be used.
You are on the right track to have an informative and exciting physics course that will engage your students. I wish you the best.
Gary
The learning environment needs to be comfortable for the students, and practical too. I can't have students butchering chickens on couches.the method of delivery for my type of class is very specific and sequential, and certain items need to be there.
Hi Julie,
You have shared with us a very clear picture of a learning environment that is supportive and engaging. By having such an environment you are giving your students an opportunity to focus on the content and the activities surrounding the content rather than distractions within the course.
Gary
Well, knowing that reinforcement is essential to learning and cognition, I arrange my classroom in such a way so as to create flow. By so doing, I can ambulate through the class making sure that I am close to the students. This fosters greater opportunities for discussion (intimacy), helps me maintain class cohesion, and allows me to facilitate efficaciously. Additionally, I have visual reinforcers on all walls of the classroom so that we all remember why we are here.
I thing possessing all the different roles as an instructor is key. Based on my experience students need to know that you are here to help them and no reprimand them if they make a mistake. As an instructor you are here to help them be successful and not set them up for failure. At the same time you need to set the tone that I am your leader/manager and not your peer but I am approachable.
I think that it plays a very important role. If the learning environment is not necessarily conducive to student learning then students will have more difficulty understanding the lesson. I typically like to create a laid back atmosphere and good rapport with students. Additionally, i ensure that all students can see the board and are on task.
The learning environment has to be comfortable for the students. As I will be teaching physics, I plan to put up posters and such with a physics theme to try to get the students interested and excited about physics and engineering (I'm told that my job is to "sell physics" to the students). In order to keep the students focused on the lecture, is it better to put posters in the front or in the back? Have any other instructors noticed if posters are too distracting or if they help provide a stimulating environment for the students?
I would like to have a pot of coffee at the start of class to give to the students in order to help stimulate their minds. Does having drinks like coffee in the class become more of a distraction than it's worth?
Another thing that I'm a fan of is physics-related toys. It may sound adolescent, but physics toys really are fun for all ages. I think it could really help those who have a hard time visualizing the abstract concepts being discussed while keeping the students from day-dreaming about unrelated topics. If my students are day-dreaming, I want them day-dreaming about physics!
I feel that the learning environment is a key piece in the instructional process. If the environment is full of distrctions or is not set up to make learning easy, such as the way a lab station is facing or lighting in the room is not acceptable. Even the temperature condition can distract the learning in a classroom. It is importnat to have the classroom set up to be comfortable and have easy access to all learning materials and supporting equipment.
