students need to see any results of a plan or a task
to insure student is not intimmedated.
It gives the Instructor as well the students the comfort feeling of the class to receive the subjects though in peacefull enviorments and comfort.
I believe the learning environment plays an important role in the instructional process. Right now I am teaching in a class that has a high ratio of students and because of this lab time is compromised. It is difficult to give each individual the time needed to learn what is needed in their future role.
Hi Cyndy,
Right you are about the challenges of keeping students engaged and focused on the class. I teach evening and night classes so my students are tired and it is easy for them to slip into near comas. I keep the class moving and active so they will want to come to class and learn even after a hard days work.
Gary
Hi Cyndy,
Students really like hearing examples and about experiences that their instructors have had. Helps them to see relevancy in what they are studying and application to the content they have acquired. Good job of doing this with your students.
Gary
The learning enviroment is essential to the ability to the absorption of the material. Students who are not engaged with the issues at hand have a blank look to the facial expression and body language. It is frustrating for an instructor to look at the class and see a dis interested individual or someone who just is not getting the delivered information. You gotta have fun!! if it isn't fun, it's lost time for the student and the instructor
My teaching style has proven effective when I can relate my experience and examples, Bringing reality to the subject material draws the listener into the subject and equally encouraging interaction for the student to contribute. Letting them be apart insures that they are grasping the material presented.
Hi Darlene,
Right you are. Students need to know they are accepted and welcomed. By knowing this they can get settled into the course and concentrate on being successful.
Gary
This is one of the most important factors..when you have a great supportive environment you are content to deliver all instructional components to your class.
Hi Jan,
Good point and will illustrated. Too many students walk off the edge and fall into the canyon and don't really realize how they did it. We need to help them see how they can transition from school to work and be successful in the process.
Gary
Hi Vicki,
Good effort on trying to help students see what they are learning will help them be successful in their careers. The more you can make their educational experiences like the real world the less traumatic the adjustment will be when they actually enter the work world.
Gary
If there is nothing it leads to wandering minds. If there is too much information, materials, or classroom clutter students can't focus as well. But if the environment is set up to focus on the current learning objectives it is motivational, showing students of what is to come in the class.
I have found that a chaotic environment leads to a chaotic class. I like to arrive early and verify that all items are working and that the classroom is able to support the needs of the lecture.
I find that if the classroom is policed well then it can be a very fruitful environment.
The learning enviornment is critical to the actual learning. However, I believe a greater concern is aligning the learning environment with that of the "real world". It is my expereince a "Grand Canyon" too often exists b/w the 2.
I also try to replicate the workplace. In massage therapy, while we can't cover everything that might come up in the field, we try to create as many situations as possible to help students be aware of what they will encounter in their profession.
Hi Andrew,
You are so right and I can appreciate the effort you are putting forth to create such a setting. Engagement from a distance can be a challenge so anything you can do to help make that possible is greatly appreciated by the students.
Gary
The evironment plays a HUGE part in the intructional process. I found very early on in my work as an online adjuct professor that I would have to make my virtual classroom interesting enough that the students who were taking the class in their pajamas would stay focused on the material and the presentation. This tends to be a little more difficult than in the classroom environment.
Hi Jennifer,
Right you are about the impact the learning environment has on students. The more realistic we can make it the better our students will be for it. I like your statement about how they will be more confident and controlled as a result of understanding how the work world is going to operate. This is very true.
Gary
James,
I agree, this will help the students be more confident when they get to the real world application.
