I am just starting out as an instructor. All of the posts are informational, and I am taking notes on everyone's experiences. THANK YOU!
learning environment is very important. You want the students to feel comfortable and be relaxed enough to think about the topic, yet not so relaxed that they fall asleep :D
Katherine,
Your comments are right on in terms of the impact that the environment has on setting a tone for the class so learners will feel comfortable and integrated into the learning process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Quite a lot actually. I have presented classes in many different settings. Changes in lighting and temperature and even height or comfort of the chairs and color of the paint in the room can make people happy to be there and glad to stay or feel anxious and antsy to leave!
Beyond that there are lots of considerations about the availability of equipment and the ease of moving around in the space- both for the instructor and the students.
Kathy
As noted previously, an instructor needs to be very aware of the environment in which his/her student are being taught. Students will be able to concentrate and engage better in an environment where they feel comfortable and accepted. Instructors' conduct greatly affects the learning environment.
The environment plays an extremely important part in delivery of course material. As instructors, it is extremely important to come to class well prepared. This also means preparing the classroom setting. When students are comfortable in their surroundings they are more likely to embrace the material positively and proactively.
I think it plays a very important role. i have noticed it is very hard to maintain the students attention when there are caused by their surroundings and possibly by something that the instructor could prevent.
Sara,
Yes, it does. It sets the tone for how the course will proceed. A sloppy ill prepared classroom or lab lets the students know that the instructional process may be slip shod as well. This should never happen and we don't want to students to think such about our courses.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The physical environment needs to be conducive to learning and have as few distractions as possible.
Heat and A/C need to be working properly, computers functioning, desks/chairs in good repair. even something stupid like stained carpeting can have a very negative impact on student focus because they feel that if the classroom environment is not being well-maintained does the school truly care about them?
Learning environment plays a huge role in the instructional process. Simple things such as temperature can change learning significantly. If a student is focused on being too cold or too warm, for example, they are not focused on the learning at hand! When the lab is well-supplied for experiments and skills practice, learning will take place. Learning environment is very important!
I believe it plays a pivotal role in the education of some students. If a positive learning environment is provided, the student is more receptive to the learning process. If the learning environment is negative, the student will take a defensive stand towards learning, even if it is something the student enjoys.
Tomoko,
This is so important to help the facilitate the learning of students. They need to know they are safe, respected and supported in the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sharon,
Thank you for these comments because they are reflect what instructors face in both situations. As a both onsite and online instructor I know my students face both types of distractions. I work hard to help my online students to see that they must strive to control their learning environment as much as possible if they are going to be successful in the course. I give them little things they can do such as move to another room away from the TV and then give another suggestion for creating a more supportive learning environment. I have found that these small suggestions help the students since they don't require a complete change and they are willing to make such adjustments.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Very big, I do believe the new generations are not train to be in an environment that they are not familiar. Just placing them in a learning classroom they tend to shut themselves. To create an environment where they know they are "secure" will let themselves to focus in the learning aspect.
In a traditional face to face course the learning environment plays a very important role. A professional setting, that is environmentally comfortable, where by outside disturbances are minimal (i.e., cell phone ringing) is imperative so the focus can be on the instruction. In a virtual environment it is just as important but less controllable by the instructor. In a virtual classroom can can control the 'chat' and the access to resources, but students have to take the responsibility of setting up a professional environment in which to learn. That means a dedicated space that the family understands is 'off limits' when the student is studying or participating in synchronous chat session. Attempting to participate in a chat when little Johnny is crying and the TV is blaring and the dog is barking is clearly suboptimal for the student. I believe in some ways, it is easier for an instructor to control with the variables in a traditional classroom as opposed to the online virtual classroom.
I believe that it plays a very important role, having been on the other side of the desk in the students shoe, it was important to me as a student that my enviroment was suitable to my vision of what I was learning.
Mary,
Well said about the value of having a comfortable and supportive learning environment. Such as setting reflects that the instructor has gone to the effort to plan and prepare for the class and the learning that is going to occur within it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe that the learning environment has a substantial effect on students and their ability to retain course content. For example secondary to the building we lease for our course, classroom environments are often at too cold of a temperature for students to focus completely on the task at hand for the day. It seems as though it is such a small part of the learning environment, but it is a huge distraction to them as their focus turns often to temperature and it will only take one to engage a entire room full of students off topic. This makes the learning environment difficult for them to focus on the material at hand.
The learning environment is everything--this is one of those nuanced things in life that can either make us feel safe, comfortable, happy and enthusiastic or precisely the opposite.
It is of course very important. If the environment is not condusive to learning we will never be able to effectively teach. As this couse has outlined the class should be a comfortable area for the students with all of the necessary supplies for the day. It should be an inviting and stimulating environment. Someplace where the instructor and the students want to be.
