EDN:204 – Learning Process B.Ed (S) Sci Topic - Creating Positive Environment - Student Diversity

Creating a Positive Learning Environment Meaning. Why create a Positive Learning Environment? Types of Learning Environment. Tips to address environmental preferences in the classroom. Designing the Physical Environment of the Classroom. Advantage of Positive Psychosocial Environment. Guidelines to establish positive relationship with students. Ten Subtle Ways to Create a Positive Learning Environment.

What do you think makes a positive learning environment? “Turn and Talk” with a partner Brainstorm together, What do you think makes a positive classroom learning environment?

Positive Learning Climate vs. Negative Classroom Learning Climate What Did You Learn? At each table visually depict what you learned from the article you read. Record on chart paper. Gallery Walk to View Ideas

Creating a Positive Learning Environment “ Teachers create learning environments that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation ”

Meaning A positive learning environment is one in which: Every pupil is valued. Emphasize on successes, appropriate behavior and accomplished. Pupils have right to be taught and to learn without being disrupted by others and vice- versa.

Pupils are responsible for their behavior. Parents, pupils and the community together have defined goals for learning environment (school, home and community). Parents, pupils and the community together have defined goals for learning environment (school, home and community).

Great value is placed on effective teaching (belonging, feel supported, and positive relationship with adults). Staff and parents are jointly responsible to teach (social skills, self-discipline, compassion and ethics). Support effective teaching and behaviour management (administrators, the district and head office).

Why create a positive learning environment? Classroom environment is a significant element in the learning process for a student. Supports positive social interaction (students & teachers). Encourages active student engagement. Allows students to assume more of the responsibility for instruction than the teacher. Creates self-motivation.

Types of Learning Environment  Physical Environment Arranging the Physical Space. Desk Placement. Environmental Preferences. Temperature. Lighting Noise level.

Tips to address environmental preferences in the classroom: Create both well-lit and dimly-lit areas in the classroom. Provide opportunities for children to move around. Help students become aware of their own temperature preferences.

Basic Principles: Designing the Physical Environment of the Classroom (Santrock, 2001, p.434) Reduce congestion in high-traffic areas. Make sure that you can easily see all students. Make often-used teaching materials and student supplies easily accessible. Make sure that students can easily observe whole-class presentations.

 Psychosocial environment The classroom which encourages positive social interaction between the teacher and students, and between the students themselves.

Psychosocial Environment & Teacher Pupil Relationship Determine the quality of classroom climate. Relationship based on mutual respect, trust care, faith, confidence, and recognition in one another’s strengths and weaknesses. Determine quality of teaching and learning in the classroom.

Advantage of Positive Psychosocial Environment A deep sense of respect and love for the teachers and other students in the class. Active student participation. Student initiated interaction between the teacher and students. Students ask questions and clear their doubts with hesitation.

Finds teacher very approachable and friendly. Students obey code of conduct and shows very minimal behavioural problems. Expresses ideas and opinions more freely. Teaching and learning tasks are carried out more cooperatively and collaboratively. Students and teacher have a shared goal to accomplish in learning.

Guidelines to establish positive relationship with students (Santrock, 2001, p.444) Give student a friendly “Hello” at the door or anytime/anywhere you meet them. Have a brief-one-on-one conversation about happenings in the student’s life. Write a brief note of encouragement to the student. Use students’ names when calling students.

Show enthusiasm about being with students. Risk more personal self-disclosures, which help students see you as a real person. Be an active listener. Let students know that you are there to support and help them. Students from high-risk environment might not initially trust your motives.

Ten Subtle Ways to Create a Positive Learning Environment Begin your week by “Nesting”. Use students’ names. Catch them being good. Dignify wrong answers.

Give students a second chance to answer correctly. Don’t “Zap” students. Phrase your questions in a manner that is non-threatening. Allow for thinking time. Don’t repeat answers. Give the students choices.

Of All The Things You Learned, What Has Meaning In Your Classroom? Identify tips you have learned about creating a positive learning climate. Create an organizer to answer this question. “Stand UP, Hand UP, Pair Up” and share those ideas. Take time to add any new ideas you may have to your organizer.

Stand Up – Hand Up – Pair Up Stand Up upon completing your individual organizer. Hand Up to indicate that you need a partner. Pair Up and share your organizer.

EXIT CARD You have been learning about creating a positive learning climate. List three things you have learned: _____________________________ Write one question you have about this topic.

Creating a positive learning environment is the cornerstone of effective teaching. A positive environment is fostered when learning outcomes and expectations are clearly communicated to the student. Students have a wide range of learning needs and styles, and this diversity must be taken into account in employing a variety of teaching strategies. The size of the classroom, the arrangement of the furniture, the functioning of equipment and other physical aspects of the class all contribute to, or detract from, the learning environment. When these factors can be manipulated to be positive influences, an environment more conducive to learning will be created. A positive learning environment is one in which all students have an equal opportunity to succeed. As conscientious teachers, we need to become aware of our own assumptions and guard against acting out our own biases. We must avoid creating or tolerating a climate in the classroom which in any way results in the unfair treatment of an individual because of his or her identity.

In order for learning to become accessible to a student, it needs to be presented in an atmosphere free from fear or humiliation. Students need clear expectations of learning outcomes so they can measure these against the skills they already have in order to establish their learning goals. Students also require access to the physical resources necessary to achieve their learning goals. High academic standards can only be maintained within a learning atmosphere which honours the diversity and integrity of each individual, builds self-esteem, provides productive and purposeful learning activities, and prepares students for responsible citizenship. Whatever level of motivation your students bring to the classroom will be transformed for better or worse, by what happens in that classroom.