Tom,
Environmental issues can either support or diminish learning opportunities for students. So the more we provide a positive learning environment the greater their engagement is going to be.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The learning environment is of great importance to students as encouraging an open and thoughtful environment encourages student learning. Everything from classroom lighting to the layout of seats can influence how the learning environment works. Therefore it is of utmost importance for an instructor to be aware of multiple factors in order to ensure that student learning is maximised.
Teresa,
Good to hear about the strategy you are going to implement.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Wow, this is a fantastic idea and a great tool to clear the students' minds and have their undivided attention. It's also a great idea for instructors to use personally, as well! I will incorporate this myself so that I can give my students 100%!
A huge role, students must be in a environment suitable for learning, and comfortable.
Jill, your response makes a strong case for having a comfortable classroom environment. The room temperature has a strong effect on students and is most often the cause of distraction. Noise levels too play a key role in student focus or the lack thereof. We once forgot to close a window and the noise from construction work outside drawned what I was saying, much to the irritation of my students.
Sometimes we unknowingly contribute to student discomfort. A low pitch or soft spoken instructor strains student comprehension and shifts focus from what is being said to trying to hear and understand what is being said by the instructor.
Meher,
How do you set up your classroom environment to a supportive and enjoyable place to learn?
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
learning environment must be neat, tidy, comfortable and easy access to the students. somewhere they find education fun and dnexciting.
The learning environment has a large role in the instructional process depending of the student's learning style. If the student has any form of learning disability then whitel clean walls would work best. For most of my medical courses, I require a lab full of working medical equipment set up so that the class has easy flow through the classromm.
I totally agree with you Jill - on all of your points! I've taught in classrooms where the air conditioning has been up too high that room is cold and not only does it create a distraction to the students, but also to the instructor as well - especially when the odd cold front hits down here in South Florida!
On the student's worries, concerns and home life, I had one student just last term who came home to find his soon-to-be brother-in-law dead in the apartment two weeks before the wedding where this student was supposed to be the best man! Add to this financial aid problems that delayed him from attending my class on some weeks and you can see how this student became obviously distracted! The student did keep in touch with me and I worked with him so that he could at least pass my class! And that is the key for the students too - to keep the communcation flowing between them and their instructors.
On the first classs night of each new term, I always tell my students a story called "A Tale of Two Students". One term about three years ago I had two female students in my class. During this term both students had deaths in the family. One female student completely fell off the grid - she never communcated to me, never emailed or called me and although I tried my hardest to reach out to her, she never responded. I had no choice but to fail her in my class. The other female student reached out to me. Even though she had a death in the family, she was determined to complete my class. The funeral was out-of-state so I worked with her to have her email her assignments to me while she was up there and she kept in constant communication with me thoughout the term. Because she reached out, I was able to work with her and as a result, she ended up achieving an A grade in my class! I always tell my students that life will throw them curb balls during the term, so communcate to me so that I can help you complete this class successfully.
We have so many students giving up easily when their lives are thrown into a tailspin and it's up to us as educators to encourage them in such a way that they will be able to succesfully complete their classes dispite the life obsticles that they face. I'll have to try your idea on my class! :)
I love this idea and will pass it along to other members of my staff. Many thanks for the best practice idea.
Our students live very busy lives. It always impresses me that they can work a full time job, take care of a family, deal with life issues that I cannot imagine dealing with, and attend school on a full time basis. As a result, it is imperative that educators provide a learning environment that is the most conducive to learning the material presented. There are enough distractions without having chaos in the classroom, cold/hot classrooms, or insufficient resources availalbe to the student.
A very big role because the students need to be at ease in the classroom in order that they will be able to assimilate more what the instructor is teaching. It is easier to understand when the mind is at ease.
That is an awesome idea! Thank you.
Cynthia,
Good to hear the value you have received from the course. I wish you continued teaching success with your understanding of the impact the environment on learning.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The learning environment is very essential to the learning process. The learning environment should safe, comfortable, and conducive to learning. Students need to feel comfortable so that they can focus on learning.
As a new instructor, I've found that the learning environment play as much of a role as the actual lessons. My students seem to lose the just of the the topic when the room is to cold or hot or even if the lighting is bad. as well as the setting arrangments. All of these things are distractions to the students. So ED101 has helped me in preparing for a better environment for my class to learn and for me as an instructor to teach.
The learning environment is so key. I just taught in a room that was so HOT. The class was falling asleep in front of me. I finally had to open a window/door. You need to make sure the temp and room set up is conducive to learning. I like setting the groups in pods so they can do group work/discussion.
I agree, the learning environment needs to be a place where students are comfortable enough to express themselves.
Students come from all kinds of different backgrounds and carry all sorts of excess baggage. when these issues and concerns are brought up in the classroom they can either hinder or excellerate the classroom discussion depending upon the subject.
There has to be a place and time for these discussions. they cannot be allowed to disrupt the classroom. But a student should feel comfortable enough to talk to the instructor if necessary.
Debra,
Sounds like a very informative and beneficial way of getting the students involved in a realistic setting. The more this can happen the greater the ease will be for the students to transition into the work setting.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
