Preparing a clean, safe and comfortable learning environment is essential for students to begin the day. Anything outside these parameters only serves to distract students during their course of instructions.
I believe teachers should try to set the tone for a comfortable environment where students can feel safe asking questions. They should know their instructor cares about them and wants to support them whether it is regarding seating, noise level, temperature, their level of understanding and knowledge and their ethnicity and background, etc.
Donald,
I agree. This is sometimes overlooked in the planning process and learning suffers as a result. The environment sets the tone for what is going to occur within the walls of the building.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Christopher,
Good strategy. Learner crave change of pace and variety in their learning. You are doing such with your efforts and as a result you are keeping your students engaged.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I believe the learning environment is essential in order to promote recieve and retain information. The instructional process is enhanced by the environmental elements such as the lighting, the color of the room and how the seating arrangement is structured.
the learning environment plays a dramatic role in student attention retention. Students tend to get distracted easily after a long lecture and or repetitive tasks, especially the ones that pick up faster than others. I try to incorporate a small physical demonstration of the subject matter in between the lecture in order to keep the students engaged from external distractions.
Robert,
Good points about the value that can be derived from being able to recall specific content and/or procedures. This is why students go to school and they need to realize there is a purpose for teaching the content that is selected.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The learning environment will assist students in retention of acquired knowledge and skills. As laboratories and classrooms will be the setting where they learn and practice the material, it should have a passing familiarity with settings in the professional world. Being able to recall explicit memories based on cues from a familiar setting will advance students in their prospective occupations.
Student retention can be maintained by providing a personalized education to the students and accomodating to their individual learning styles.
The right environment is everything when preparing students for the workforce. A class with engaged students and a prepared instructor will leave the students wanting more and eager to return.
It has a very big effect on the Student. I worked in Schools the roof leaked the heat was broke in the winter time. And the end result was not that great let me tell you that much. Most of the students got sick, so lack of attendance, that was leading to bad grades. In short the classroom does make a difference if it is not taking care of.
Kevin,
This is an important strategy to follow. You have to maintain a balance for the students so they can complete their work while enjoying a learning environment that is supportive.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
During lab time it can be difficult because some students are more sociable while others prefer quiet. As instructors we need to set a manageable tone for the group. I prefer to set a framework that allows some room for students to find the best circumstances for themselves to work and participate.
I agree. This is a very simple step that we can all take that helps us understand the students' perspective.
The environment needs to facilitate the learning activities of the course. I remember on one occasion I was teaching a color theory class in an area that did not have adequate space for students to work on their projects.
The environment should feel and appear perfect for the goals and outcomes of the class.
Carolyn,
Good point. We need to see the learning environment through the eyes of the students so we can make any adjustments in the setting if needed.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
A comfortable learning environment not only aids in sharing of knowledge, it is a real plus during assessments. Example: Low volume classical music during a test helps to soothe nerves.
William,
I agree with your assessment of a positive learning environment. The more we can make the setting inviting the better.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
It plays a vital role, and I find that little touches like bulletin boards make a difference. There's a reason we see them used in every single class room from kindergarten to high school; in addition, they provide a touch of the familiar to students who have been out of the class room for a number of years.
if there is a glare or the room is to cold or hot the students will not get the most out of the class that day or year. We have to be sure that they are comfortable so they will absorb what we are teaching.
