sometimes I get volunteers from a graduated class who are already in the work force to speak with my class about their working experiences
A big part. If student aren't comfortable, they cant learn.
Angela,
Good point about how the environment impacts the learning of students. We need to make sure the environment is supportive and does not distract from what is being taught.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Nieva,
Good examples of how to engage students in the learning process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Very. Teaching in a chaotic noisy environment can certainly pose more challenges than teaching in a quiet relaxed environment.
--Watching videos related to the topic has a strong impact with the students.
--Using teasers before lectures makes the students get interested in the topic to be discussed for the day.
Nieva,
The more relevance and application you can show your students the better. Field trips and guest speakers are two great ways to reinforce what you are teaching. So use them when and where you can to support your content.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Learning environment is important and sometimes it would be good to vary- meaning take the students out for a field trip so they can see the actual and real work place setting, see the relevance of what they are learning in class to the real world outside of school.
Arrington,
Good strategy to help make your content come alive and show your students that they are receiving the latest content in their field. This approach increases the value of the course to the students and shows them the importance of staying up to date when they are out in the field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Tammy,
Can you expand on this in terms of the effect it has on learning? Thanks
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
For the past nine years, I have taught courses that would be classified as "General Education" and "Social Sciences." Typically, an instructor will teach in the style to which they learn best. With that being said, the learning environment and instructional process go hand-in-hand. For example, I am a visual learner. If my goal is to have students truly understand the concept of bystander effect, then the classroom will be transformed in order to visually demonstrate the this lesson.
As a Business Instructor there is not a lot I can do to to change the room from a normal operating setting without making it distracting, so I bring in business magazines and the business section of the local news paper to discuss how events impact us locally. I realized that often times the "so what" factor helps enhance the learning environment as well.
It sets the tone for the entire course
William,
The more their educational setting can reflect the work setting the better. This way the students will see what they will be working in and this will make the transition from the classroom to the work world easier for them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Valarie,
This is a good point because the students need to know how the business and customer relations aspects of their field impacts their future success. All of the elements must be coordinated if there is going to be success in the work place. The more the students realize this the more successful they are going to be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If the environment is quite the personnel can remain attentive to what is being taught. If there are loud noises or working going on the students will space out or be curious and not keep their mind on the prize.
Because I am an instructor of Cosmetology, it is very important that the students are able to be comfortable and knowledgable about the "Salon" atmosphere and how all areas are run. They need to know how to take care of the customer, if they are on the phone, walking through the door, in their chair or cashing out. So it is very important.
As a MA instructor, the classroom / Lab should be designed/modeled the same as an office / work setting to prepare the students to function in a work setting. this will prepare them to be successful in the workforce because they will be confident in their skills and abilities to perform their job tasks
The learning environment plays a huge role on the instructional process. It needs to be a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere because if not barriers may be created in the flow of information
Marcia,
Your last sentence says a lot about our lives as educators. It seems that Plan A never works and in many cases neither does Plan B. I have been on Plan M or N when things really fall apart. You make a good point about how we need to have plenty of back up plans if we are going to be able to keep the class moving forward even when challenges arise.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
