Hi Joann- Thanks for your your post to the forum. You shared a very thorough list of classroom environment needs and good classroom management techniques. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
The atmosphere of a classroom or lecture hall should be organized,clean and neat. The area should also be controlled and quiet for study times and homework review. When lecturing encourage interactive conversation, but keep the classroom on tract and do not let anyone become loud or start to debate someones response or begin to use a loud tone of voice. Chairs should be comfortable and the climate should be right. Always give the students times to get up and move around during longer lectures and maintain a definite break schedule due to known studies of attention span. All of these things , and there are many more will make the area more condusive to learning.
Setting up classroom to impact the different learning preferences aids my students in learning. For example, if I have a visual learner I need to utilize a ppt. If I have a kinesthetic learner I need to provide a book for them to highlight different areas. I could also set my classroom up so that the chat could be recorded. Some of my students may learn more from listening to the chat again.
Joan Adkins
hi Nicole- I agree, teaching is a lot like being the captain of a ship - you need to be sure that your ship/room is seaworthy! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I think the physical setting has everything to do with how the students learn! Just the set up of the room, temperature, flow and just the overall space. Students have to feel comfortable and safe in a classroom to let their attention and mind focus on learning!
As an instructor I think it's important to check out your classroom before the first day, and if it's not a good environment for you class you need to speak up. I made the mistake once of not speaking up when I had a class room that was too long and narrow and had horrible lighting.
Hi Jessica- thanks for your post to the forum. Your strategy of taking notes on your students' bios is excellent! I do the same. It says that you have paid attention to what they have shared with you. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I teach an online class so I feel it is important to try and build some connection with students and have them get to know each other as well to help build relationships. The first week they are to tell about themselves. I write down some of the information that stands out and will bring it up throughout the quarter to help show interest and that there is someone available, even though they aren't standing in front of them lecturing.
Hi frank - Thanks for your post to the forum. Asking your students for input as you consider the physical environment is excellent. It says that you really care about how they feel! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
For me personally, the physical setting does not impact my learning ability (unless it is at an extreme). It could be cold or warm, clean or dirty, cramped or open; it wouldn’t matter. Because I can just adapt to the environment I always ask my students what about the given environment will impact you from succeeding in the classroom. The number one response, too many students in a small space. In this case, if there is a larger room available, we just pick up and move. If there isn’t we will do things like spreading out the tables as much as possible or removing unnecessary equipment such as podiums, unused tables, or equipment for other classes. Other things that commonly end up on the list of what impacts the students in the environment include the temperature, the sun on the screen/whiteboard, the technology (pro smartboards) and the cleanliness of the room.
For me personally, the physical setting does not impact my learning ability (unless it is at an extreme). It could be cold or warm, clean or dirty, cramped or open; it wouldn’t matter. Because I can just adapt to the environment I always ask my students what about the given environment will impact you from succeeding in the classroom. The number one response, too many students in a small space. In this case, if there is a larger room available, we just pick up and move. If there isn’t we will do things like spreading out the tables as much as possible or removing unnecessary equipment such as podiums, unused tables, or equipment for other classes. Other things that commonly end up on the list of what impacts the students in the environment include the temperature, the sun on the screen/whiteboard, the technology (pro smartboards) and the cleanliness of the room.
I like to talk with my students on day one and express how important attendance is to set the pace for good solid job attendance. I stress the importance of coming to class prepared and that will also prepare them for going to work being prepared. I have deadlines but try to be flexible and considerate depending on circumstances in the learners environment.
Hi Rebecca- You are obviously a very caring instructor - I'm sure your students can sense that! Best wishes- Susan
I agree with you, Randal. But I think a positive learning environment goes beyond even the "physical" room. I think the most important part of teaching, regardless of the student learning style, is building student confidence.
Things such as always calling the student by his/her name, setting a positive environment by not accepting negative comments or body language and setting that expectation day one, ncouraging students to set high goals for themselves and celebrating when every milestone is met, opening tough conversations with two positive statements, and so on.
Hi Karen - Thanks for your post to the forum. Although I believe that it is important to diversify our delivery, in every class, as often as possible; but,as you mention, in the online environment it is absolutely necessary! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
This is an interesting topic for those of us that instruct online as the learning environment is the online environment. This is why the structure of the class should include attributes that are good for all types of learners.
Hi Foch - Thanks for your post to the forum. All students respond positively to an enthusiatic and creative instructor! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Fatima - Thanks for yor post to the forum. Almost all labs are not very good for lecturing. You are doing a good job of compensating! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I am a technology instructor and the physical setting does impact greatly in my classroom. One of the biggest problems my students complain about is the desks. Since we have the computers, it is impossible to rearrange my room (So, I have been told by our IT department). The computers are on round desks of 6 computers per circle. This is good when we are working on team projects but it can be a little difficult when doing classroom discussions. Most of the time people sit on this tables with the six people they feel comfortable with. When we have class lecture or discussions, I have learned to ask everyone to bring their chairs to the front and create a half-moon shape. That way we are not alienated by groups of friends. Yet, this is still creates a few problems; for example, since we don't have desks my students are force to place their notebooks on their laps to take notes or most of the discussion becomes verbal with a few notes being taken. Because of this problems, some of my students prefer to stay on their computers and do online trainings rather than having class discussions.
I am a technology instructor and sometimes what I found difficult is meeting the gap between my younger generation students (who enjoy online programs) and my older students who still prefer the lecture classes over online trainings. My classroom usually breaks 50/50 half of my students being 18-25 and the other half being 40-60 years old. At first it is hard for my older students to feel comfortable using the online resources; especially when my younger students take about half the time to complete online trainings, but after some reassurance that they are doing well. They do better on online trainings and move more freely on the computers.
I have taught at two different commercial colleges. One with a less than perfect setting and currently at a school with excellent facilities.
Knowingly or unknowingly, I am sure that all four types of students have been in my classes.
What seems to work for me with students is how "excited" I am about the material and how fresh it can be made. Does this approach reach all four types of learners?
