The learning environment plays a very important role in the instructional process. I am a cosmetology instructor and my classroom is set up like a salon. I think this setup helps students do better when the leave and work in a salon versus the traditional classroom.
The learning environment must be "safe" for students. I feel this is especially important for course subjects that can be controversial or tasks that require students to stop out of their comfort zone.
Example - students who fear public speaking must feel safe experimenting and making mistakes in front of his/her instructor and classmates.
Stefanie,
These types of experiences are valuable to the students even if they don't like them very much. The more you can do to prepare them to enter the real world the better. Being able to work in such an environment will show them that they can make it once they are out in an office and dealing with their own patients.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I teach resiratory therapist at a hospital. It is very important that what they learn in the classroom can be applied in the heathcare setting so I believe that the school campus must have a lab that simulates a real hospital care area. It helps students to apply what they learn in the classroom to the hospital care setting.
As a clinical instructor for a Dental Hygiene program, we've set up our dental clinic to resemble that of a private practice operatory so that the students are able to get accustomed to the layout of an office. While all offices vary, there is a basic setup to the practice. The instructors also will "pop over" to talk with their students while they are treating their patient, to give them some real world scenarios that come up in the office. The students don't like being disturbed and feels it hinders their learning process, but what we are trying to do is mimic the ongoings of a "normal" work day in practice. They won't ever have just 1 on 1 with their patient 100% of the time. The doctor will come in, the receptionist may buzz you, the assistant will come borrow something, the patient's cell phone will ring, etc. I think by providing these distractions, it will help them learn to multitask as well as tune out/tune in necessary information that's coming at them constantly.
Delores,
Simple things like the posters can have a powerful impact on the students and their learning. Instructors need to look for different ways to get their message across to their students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The environment plays an important learning for the students. In one of my class, I posted anatomy posters and medical terminology on the walls. That helped the student to learn from seeing and hearing.
If people are comfortable and relaxed they are more condusive to concentrate and be mentally alert and open to learning. If the environment is cold and sterile they may be preoccupied with other things rather than course content.
Lorraine,
I have taught in settings like this that make it very difficult to deliver my content in a way that engages the students. As a result I had to do a lot of adapting to make sure I was getting the material covered while keeping my students interested and with minimum distractions.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is so important. Sometimes I have a course that is heavy on lecture and discussion, and I have been scheduled in a computer lab. The monitors make it difficult for all of us to make good eye contact with one another, and of course, the availability of the computer provides a temptation to the students to drift away.
Brenda,
You make a number of good points about the learning environment and student success. In my work I go to developing countries and set up educational programs. I recently was in a mountain village where the school was a cave. The only education supplies and resources were worn out textbooks that were over twenty years old. The children in the village were so excited about being able to go to school and learn to read. They thought the worn out and torn textbooks were made of gold. They arrived early, never missed and soaked up everything the teacher said. This was done in a cave with a lantern for light. Everyday 16 million kids wake up with no school or are not allowed to go to school. I sometimes lose patience with the youth in America that complain about everything in relation to education. I would like to show them the places I have been and the schools other children in the world attend or in some cases do not get to attend.
I support your idea about the value of internships because they help students to see what they are going to experience once they enter that career area. The more real world experience the easier their transition to employment is going to be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Robert,
The more we can create a simulated work environment the better for our students. As you know from you own experience a simulated work experience engages students at a higher level plus eases their transition from school to the workplace.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The learning environment is extemely important,and it does make me wonder what affect the classrooms in third world countries would have on their students? Must be difficult to accomplish, but then again, those students are much more motivated possibly.The teacher also is the motivating factor in that scenario, I would think.
I think the "internship" programs are the most valuable teaching assets, and there are so few of them anymore.
The learning enviroment is critical to the students at my school because it perpares them for the real workforce environment so that they know what to expect when they go to work.
Martin,
Good analysis of where we are at today with our instructional environments. There certainly is a mix out there as a result of technology and different delivery options. The key is to key the learner at the center of what we do and at times this can be a real challenge.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The learning environment plays a MAJOR factor in the instructional process. While in college we had to wear shorts in the winter because the rooms were so hot and pants in the summer because is was so cold. Even as an instructor, if you have environmental issues, your instruction will suffer greatly. The other side is the generational differences we now face in the class, coupled with online learning..... Within the online environment, I believe you become too relaxed and that too causes issues within the learning.
David,
You make an excellent point with your last sentence. Personality is a important part of teaching style and student engagement. Your personality helps to "sell" the course and the level of engagement the student is going to have. Teaching online is tough for the reasons you list so it takes special planning and effort to compete for the attention of students for sure.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jeanie,
This is an important part of being a professional educator. Also, being prepared gives you confidence and reduces nerves when you know you are ready and your equipment is in place.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jeanie,
So true. Not having enough nor the right materials is very frustrating to students. They need to have adequate supplies and current equipment to use in their training.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The learning environment determines how well the students can focus on the material. One great frustration of teaching on line is that I have no influence over the learning environment for the student. Sometimes during webinars I hear children or dogs in the background, and know that I am competing for student focus and attention. When other students hear the same thing, it can degrade the whole academic experience. Sometimes the environment for in-residence teaching can go too far the other way. Learning in a sterile white box with nothing on the walls, and floors, desks and chairs all the same color can be a disorienting experience. Trying to strike a balance between professional and human is hard. Frequently all I have to fall back on to achieve this balance is personality.
