User:Denny Pierre

Author: Mr. Denny A. Pierre, Assistant Lecturer; Caribbean Studies, Critical Thinking- college level, Grenada, W.I. Topic: The Learning Environment Date Submitted: March 7, 2009

The three climates making up the classroom environment are as follows: 1) the physical environment, 2) the instructional environment, and 3) the psychological environment. These three climates, though distinct by definition, are interrelated and/or inseparable. This is the first thing that teachers need to be cognizant of as they seek to enhance and develop the mental faculty of students. Teachers possess the ability to influence students’ learning as well as to impede it. It is therefore incumbent upon teaching faculties to reconcile all the three learning climates mentioned and to ensure that they are conducive to positive learning. The physical environment, which is visible, most transparent and is possible to touch and identify, must be of such that students are comfortable. For instance, there should be proper lighting, whiteboard/blackboard, tables, chairs and adequate apparatus for hand-on practice; there should also be no noise distractions. It should be inviting and conducive to learning, otherwise it will hinder the process and render the environment cold and uninviting. The instructional environment is another important climate in the learning process. It requires teachers to know their material, to select the correct mix of teaching strategies, and to possess excellent classroom management skills to bring the course content to life and to encourage and stimulate student learning. Thus, teachers have the ability to create the conditions that can assist students to learn a lot or impede them from doing so. The knowledge and/or skills and teaching methods which the teacher employs in the delivery of the course content can make a significant difference and enhance students’ learning. Moving away from the blackboard/whiteboard to holding group discussions, the use of audiovisuals, one minute paper, field trips, or even inviting a guest speaker to address the students on a particular topic, are all new things teachers can implement to ensure that the various learning abilities of students are addressed. No student should be left out and/or stay behind in class. Moreover, the many approaches employed will assist teachers in not only teaching effectively, but both in evaluating and assessing students’ overall performance. The psychological environment which comprises of attitudes, values and beliefs, is also fundamental to the learning process. Not only do the teachers, but the students also bring these traits into the learning environment. According to research, “we teach who we are.” “Good teaching cannot be reduced to mere techniques,” said Parker Palmer,an educator and founder of the Center for Courage and Renewal in the USA. Additionally, good teaching emanates from the identity and/or integrity of the teacher. Educators, therefore, should be apt to make this transparent in their lives and teach students ethical principles. Indeed, the psychological environment requires teachers to not only teach students but to live a life style that is transparent and visible to students. Teachers are to be positive role models. The most challenging of the learning climates is the instructional environment. This is so because it demands that teachers know their material, and it involves the process of delivering the course content, and emphasizes the need for teachers to develop tools to help them realize the success level of not only the students but the course outcomes. For example, in any given classroom there are students with different leaning rates, different learning styles, experience, level of confidence, and learning abilities. Other factors include age, culture, educational background and gender. All these factors make each student different from the other and affect their learning process. The manner in which these differences are dealt with in the learning environment will determine the motivation level and success of the students. Strategies that teachers can use to manipulate and/or meet the challenges posed by the instructional environment would include the incorporation of a daily lesson plan to articulate and ensure the goals of the course, and to remain on track. They must also ensure that the knowledge they possess is used to create the type of conditions that would help students play an active part in the learning activities. They can also incorporate into the learning environment things like audiovisuals, group discussion, one minute paper, field trips and extending an invitation to a guest speaker to address the classroom on a topic that interests the students. Teachers can also speak with the school counselor in an effort to discover ways to enhance the learning process of students with special needs. This is critically significant since every student should be given a fair opportunity at learning, and it is the teacher’s responsibility in addition to the administration of the school, to endeavor to create the best learning environment possible. Finally, teachers should always read to improve their knowledge and keep abreast with any new techniques that can assist in an effective delivery.