Get Your Students Hired
It has a huge impact on their preferences. I may not be the first to suggest Maslow's hierarchy of needs to start. And physical educational resources all need to be in place to support the course content. Building facilities need to be suited the intended educational experience. Example: thermal comfort, not to hot and not too cold. We don't want the students at a disadvantage before we even start teaching. -Ed
We have a big problem with temperature in the classroom. While the thermostat indicates it is 77 degrees, everyone is freezing. This causes students to focus more on temperature than on course material.
Hi Renato, Thanks for your post to the forum. That's a good analogy - I see much more classroom participation in groups that have been in cohorts for a few quarters, They know and support each other.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I believe that a positive environment helps student feel more at ease and part of the group, they feel as though they belong. Its like speaking to a group of people, if someone has to go up and speak in front of them most people get nervous. But when they are in a group feeling at ease its a lot easier to ask a question or make a statement. Creating the that "at ease" feeling might make it easier for participation.
Hi Michael, That's a tough one! If you can't move the desks I think the best strategy would be to move the students as often as feasible. Have them switch seats, get up and move about, write on the board, etc. Can you take them on small field trips?
Susan Polick
I am in a classroom shared my many and have no impact on the enviornment, my particular class is very unfriendly with large shared desks and are unable to move them. Any suggestions?
Temperature, lighting and visual stimulation are all effective for creating a positive environment. Also, along with this is the support the students need to feel from the instructor, the school, and their peers.
Mariann Urbancsik, BSRN
Hi John, Thanks for your post to the forum. That's an excellent way to combine instruction with application. Your students will certainly get the relevance of what they are learning! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I treat my classroom as i would a contracting company where as I act as the department manager and the students play the role of the technicians.
I can issue a work ticket to a student with the job he has to do for the day. it helps create a more realistic work environment
Even though students may have different learning styles, the physical setting impacts the learning preferences of all students. For example, if the lighting is poor in the class setting, this might negatively affect the learning style of visual learners and written word learners, whereas, loud noises inside or outside of the class environment may distract auditory learners. Additionally, limited space or overcrowding would limit kinesthetic exercises and have a negative impact on students.
Students are easily distracted. If the classroom is disruptive the student gets frustrated and they can not retain any information that was discussed in class. The physical setting has a lot to do with the impact of learning.
Hi Linda, Thanks for your post to the forum. We had a small classroom with carpeted "stadium" level steps and no desks so students could "stretch out". As you mention, it was "too comfortable" so desks were brought in! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
While it is important to have a safe and comfortable environment for our students, we must keep in mind that if it is too "comfortable" for them (lighting, seating, etc) it may also not allow students to stay awake and stimulated. There is a balance that needs to be met. It should always be positive and encouraging.
Students need to feel comfortable with the surroundings to be able to participate in classroom activities
Hi Jason, Thanks for your post to the forum. That's a very good point! Being in the same surroundings everyday can be quite boring! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
There are a number of posts that discuss the value of making the learning environment comfortable and safe and I agree with those things. However, I find that familiarity can lead to complacency. I therefore like to shake things up occasionally by having students move seats, rearranging the classroom or having student work in one particular part of the room. This disrupts complacency and reinvigorates engagement.
Hi Tammy, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, when students can actually apply what they are learning in a timely manner, they do retain more of the skills/information. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
We have a working lab that the students attend every day after lecture. We utilize the information presented in lecture and preform the demonstrations in lab. We then let the students preform those same proceedures. We find that once they can actally see and feel how something works they have a much better grasp of the information.