Learning space
I believe that as instructors we know how important it is for our students to be comfortable in the learning space. It is no different than designing YOUR space at home, the office or wherever you want to feel comfortable and at ease with the world around you. I know instructors who spend thousands of dollars on creating their own sanctuary at home yet have the leanest starkest exisitance of a classroom. As much if not more thought and energy should be brought forward to the classroom inviting students into the learning sanctuary. Color, music, invigorating visuals all play a critical point in this method. My favorite tool is to write a daily quoate on the whiteboard based off of the previous days "feelings" about the class topic. It is always handwritten and it is something that is immediately noticed should I not create one, at which time I generate one about how the world perceives simple items... for example; We are all born with love, fear is what we learn. I find my students writing every quoate down no matter what it's direction is for we can all find relavance in what ever the saying is.
I also use the quote of the day. The students look forward to it. In addition, I make learning posters relating to our current studies. They are hung on the wall and referred to during the lesson. Although covered during testing, students will look at the covered poster to recall information.
I love quotes and I also use them with my classes. I also have them write their favorite quotes and take the time to have them read them to eachother.
Pamela,
and I think by using the inspirational quotes it might drive the students to engage more with the reading material from which the quotes come.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Yes, I do that as well and I use quotes from inspirations. I dont think alot of reading goes on for fun anymore in this generation so they dont hear things like this in the real world. I played them a underwater dance with turtles and fish with this great music and they loved it. For them it was like being in another world.
P O'Dwyer
David ,
I like this idea as well as generally it results in eager learners coming to class each day.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I like that idea to help give the students something to look forward to each class day. I plan to use that for the first term with my students and then look to encourage them to bring their own quotes in and take turns writing their quotes on the whiteboard.
Mark,
you are right that we don't always have control over the teaching space. Regarding the quotes I think this is a great technique & one that can be used at the start of a class to engage the learners in a discussion & their reactions to the quote.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Writing different quotes down on a board or butcher block everyday is a good idea to get students to talk and perhaps open up a bit. I might use that technique in the future. Talking about learning space however, I generally have to make the best out of what I'm given. I teach short courses all over the world dealing with topics concerning military doctrine and the host nation comes up with the teaching venue. Sometimes they are ideal and sometimes they are not. One has to learn to be flexible.
