Learning, friend or faux? Promoting a Positive Classroom Environment Dr. Steven M. Lazarus Marine and Environmental Systems January 4, 2013 rapportrapport reparteerepartee

Do as I say, not as I do…

What is a prisoner’s favorite punctuation mark? A period It marks the end of their sentence…

Ask yourself these questions What kind of environment do you want to foster? How do I get there? How do I maintain it? How do I improve it? 1 1 Parts of this presentation may be applicable to child rearing and other interpersonal relationships…

Some ideas for a + classroom environment Start class on time (set an example!) End class on time Announce/publish your office hours and keep them! Get students into your office BE FAIR!!! Stick with clearly written policies that are set at the beginning of the course. Establish clear expectations

Recognize individual differences Learn names Make yourself available Encourage/Engage students Push your students (and yourself) Attempt to relate to your students on their level Don’t have sex with any of your students Don’t talk to students about other students! If you don’t care…you’ve got the wrong job! Some more ideas…

Learn students’ names Calling students by name signifies a positive relationship between teachers and students. Students who recognize that their teachers think of them as individuals with individual needs will feel more comfortable in class and be more responsive in discussions. This is FIT’s bread and butter…

Gracie Joey Ashley Zachary Khalifa Alex N. Aaron C. Jon Jessica Emily > Brenda Genevieve

Learn something more about your students Student Questionnaire: Fall MET4305/5305 Dynamic Meteorology NAME: MAJOR: UndergradGraduate Where are you from? What aspects of meteorology are you interested in? What do you hope to get out this class? Do you plan to attend graduate school in Meteorology? (undergrad only) Other comments/hopes/aspirations/visions?

Be responsive to the individual needs of students Quality teaching entails being sensitive to individual differences in preferred learning styles by varying the rate, amount, nature or content of the instruction given. Teachers who alter instruction to accommodate individual differences send the message that they want to reach all of their students all of the time. Students are much more likely to participate actively in learning activities when they know that their teachers are considerate.

Managing the Classroom Environment cont’d Be conscious of any form of harassment, whether by you, towards you, or towards other members of the class. Make it clear by your words and actions that derogatory comments for whatever reason are simply not acceptable. Refer students with psychological, emotional, academic, or financial trouble to the appropriate counselors. Be compassionate, but recognize that becoming a student's counselor can really be problematic! As a teaching assistant, involve yourself only to the extent that you are expected to be involved. Do not foster a "me against you" attitude, and do not side with the students against the professor.

Classroom Interaction Asking students to come to the front of the room so that they are close to each other For a small discussion section, it may be useful to arrange chairs in a circle or a U shape. Ask students to come to the board!

Clear Expectations From the get-go! Clear Consistent (follow your own rules!) Communicate Example… Homework

Feedback is critical!!!

An environment conducive for student participation… Never ridicule a student's questions/remarks Confront students who attack other students Reinforce appropriate student behavior Be honest Set a good example Enlist student interest – ask questions/interact Build a sense of mutual interest, cooperation and investment Stimulate, encourage creative, reflective and critical thinking

This ain’t high school anymore… Begin teaching the first day of class If you do not take the subject matter seriously, neither will your students! Set the tone early in the semester You can always back off…

Limit the B.S Limit the B.S. It’s ok if you are learning the material for the first time along with your students… Students generally can tell when you are ‘forcing’ an answer to a question – or if you don’t know what you are talking about!

Put away the attitude… Professors Strike Back (MTVU)

Learn to laugh at yourself

Apologize/Admit when you are wrong

Keep personal politics/religion out of the classroom! SouthParkvideo

CommunicationCommunicationCommunication As in all of our relationships, there is nothing more valuable than communication. We communicate our feelings, our ideas, our passions, our opinions, and our desires. Everyone is entitled to an opinion – this is not to say that they are free to express themselves uncontested – but they should be able to do so, within reason, without fear of reprisal. Dr. L

Don’t forget to have a little fun! Be imaginative Be creative Be real Take a deep breath And remember Do as I say, not as I do Who do you least want to emulate?

Dr. Maul : Rules, Expectations, and Standards, aka “How to avoid conflict” Dr. Lazarus : Learning, friend or faux? Promoting a Positive Classroom Environment. A TALE OF TWO PROFESSORS…

No animals were harmed in the making of the presentation…

QUESTIONS?