It varies on the type of audience and what you are teaching
Chloe,
just as my input: I've found the horseshoe or "U" arrangement to be the most conducive to good discussion.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
The course I teach is actually about music, so I think I could use music more often than just for the few examples I use. I also like the idea of changing the seating in the classroom. As it is now, it's not very conducive to discussion or group work, and I think if I use one of the desk plans discussed in ED107, it could be a great change.
Jeffrey,
and this really helps all learners retain the information even better.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Peter,
this is a good point & the reality is that in this case the music might be more of a hindrance as it can add unnecessary noise.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
In a culinary arts classroom there is a lot of stimuli already. Posters of herbs, vegetables, knives along with kitchen equipment. The music of pots and pans along with the ventilation is music to every cook.
In the classes that I teach students have in class labs that they do and I have found playing music when they are doing thier labs keeps them on track more then when I don't play the music.
ANDREA,
is there a way to use handouts or power points instead of the posters?
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I love the idea of using peripherals for learning, however, our school has changed rules and is no longer allowing any work or posters to be taped or put up on the walls. any other suggestions?
Amanda,
I had not thought of that angle with the music & the student with test anxiety, but it might really help.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I have posters on my walls, and visual aids throughout that the students love to look at, though I think the posters may be too complicated for a glance. I have tried many differed seating arrangements, and have found classroom seating with everyone facing forward and circular seating works best. I am extrememly interested in trying the music. Especially for student with test anxiety, I am curious as to how it might help them focus on the test and not be so "in their head" so to speak.
Harrison,
these are all great ways to engage the senses of the students as well as to keep things fresh & exciting.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
My room is painted pastel green. I sometimes open the back door so the outside is visible and may even have the students step outside and take a deep breath before beginning the day. I often play Beethoven during exams and online streaming music while working on the work boards on the walls of the classroom.
We have changed the seating arrangement a few times which also keeps the instructor out of the doldrums.
We display our students research projects on the walls.
Richard,
your bringing in the parts is great as this is very helpful to the tactile learners in your classes.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I do use colored markers on the white board. More visuals and creative supplies would add to the learning environment.
I teach automotive classes and found it very helpful when I bring in items that correspond to what we are learning. Such as Various engine parts that the students can look at and see, and feel with there hands. I have also picked up posters of various components that add to the visual learning. I have never thought of the use of music? Might give it a try.
Plain walls in a classroom are boring and the student might feel the same about the class. There needs to some type of visual stimulation for the student. I use diagrams and charts that are on the walls to assist in lectures and reviews. Colored markers work great on the white board. Music during study time is a must. The students really go for that.
The seating pattern that I find best suited for the course I teach (Automotive Technology) is the rectangular one in which the teacher's table is one of the shorter sides of the pattern. This allows them to interact better by looking at each other, especially when the teaching aid components are passed around. Multi colored visuals are found to be more appealing.
Although I did use many of these ideas when I taught in a traditional classroom, teaching online has limited much of these opportunities. I still work hard to make my visuals colorful and using appropriate graphics to improve understanding and retention but there is no placement of chairs or opportunities to play music in our online classroom. I am going to try starting each class with a motivational saying posted on the discussion page so that students will see it when they "enter" the class.
Eileen Gallagher
Tom,
this is a great idea & maybe even have some of the students help in writing things on the flipcharts in class, this could help the kinesthetic learners.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
