Hildreth (1990) writes about the Learning environment in The Essentials of Meeting Management. A learning environment, in part, should be functional and inviting (Hildreth, 1990). The classroom environment should consider the aesthetics of acoustics, lighting, audiovisual supplies and capabilities (Hildreth, 1990). It is important for the educator to set the tone and create an environment where learning is encouraged and possible.
Reference
Hildreth, Richard A. (1990) The Essentials of Meeting Management. Prentice-Hall Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
The classroom learning environment should as much as possible resemble the profession of study. This keeps the students interested in learning. Their should be equipment, diagrams that are used in the profession.
It plays a huge part in student satisfaction. Our equipment in the lab is old and outdated and when the students reach this portion of the class they sometimes develop a attitude of disatisfaction with the lab. It is hard to keep their attitudes up with the older learning environment but being positive is essential. Telling them that learning on the older equipment will give them an advantage if they get a job in a clinic that has not updated.
Mary,
Things like this have a real impact on the students. We instructors need to look at our classrooms and labs through the eyes of our students and them make adjustments as needed.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The learning environment is important. The instructor should make sure the students feel comfortable (temperature and adequate lighting)and secure (voicing opinions).
Lucia,
Good point about finding the right balance in terms of a classroom/lab environment that is comfortable for everyone to receive instruction in and feel supported by.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Your classroom plays a big part in your students learning. A drab classroom may lead to boredom, but a room filled with posters and props may lead your students to be distracted from what you are presenting.
Jason,
This is an ongoing challenge for most schools due to financial as well as space limitations. Sounds like you have found an alternative that is working for both you and your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I'm an IT instructor and think it would be great for the classroom to look like a tech room that you would find at a business, however some schools cannot afford to keep junk computers around for students to take apart and build. I find that to be one of the harder things for the students to understand. Much of that work requires going to the Internet and looking at pictures of motherboards and other parts which I feel would be a better hands on experience.
Aleah,
Yes, it was. This is not the first time I have heard this from instructors. Instructors need to be able to teach in an environment that will be supportive of their instructional style without minimum distractions. You are fortunate that you were able to have such a setting available to you.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It's important for me to connect with my students, and for them to connect with each other. I was initially assigned a lab classroom, with computer monitors at each desk. However I felt the computers would be a distraction and barrier. So, I chose a classroom with no desk computers, just the instructor laptop and a projector. Judging by how the students are communicating and sharing ideas, it was a great decision.
Nelia,
The more you can replicate the work environment that your students will be entering the easier their transition to employment is going to be. You are helping them to see that the steps and procedures they are being taught are the ones they will have to follow when in the field if they are going to be in compliance. This is such an essential part of their training and you are helping them to get it embedded into their memory banks.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A good, safe, and supportive learning environment enhance the learning process. For example, in Hematology laboratory where students perform venipuncture on each other, the environment should comply with OSHA standards to make them feel that those procedures are safe to perform and that's how it will enhance their learning process by practicing their skills in phlebotomy.
The learning environment is an important factor in the instructional process.
As instructors, we have to create a positive learning environment. Trust & confidence between teacher/students should be displayed.
Also the following physical factors also affect the learning environment:
*room too hot/cold
*noisy
*poor lighting/ventilation
*malfunctioning equipments
*overcrowded classroom
Manuel,
This is a must. Students cannot be expected to perform if they do not have current and supporting materials, equipment and resources. It is unfair to them and their career preparation if the school does not provide them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It plays a very significant role it persuade the student to stay focus on subject matter, it shapes their minds for their intended field of expertise, and subliminally encourage them.
Having most or all the materials that students will need for the class is imperative and necessary. Example: A Computer hardware class must have a computer to build with all the parts to make the computer work as the final goal.
Shelly,
Temperature is an important part of the learning process. As you say too cold and students shut down, when it is too warm they drift off. We need to always see out classrooms and labs through the eyes of our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jessie,
This is such a great way to prepare students because you are helping them to be confident when they transition from the classroom/lab to the real world.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe it is crucial to have a comfortable learning environment. Unfortunately, I have found if the classroom is too cold my students seem ansy and disengaged.
