Learning Environment Concept of learning environment

Learning

and Community learning

Context Childrens Learning Experiences Roles and Importance of Play in learning process of children Characteristics and types of Play

School climate is the learning environment created through the interaction of human relationships, physical setting and psychological atmosphere.

Physical Psychosocial

Physical Condition in Classroom Teaching Aids and Resources Environment

The physical environment in your classroom has a profound effect on individual children, the group as a whole, and you. The physical environment includes size of the room, colors of the walls, the type of flooring, amount of light, number of windows. While you may have limited control over many of these features, you do have options about: how to organize furniture, what materials to put out, and what you can bring outdoors to make the total space available to you more interesting.

A physical setting that is safe, attractive, comfortable, and well designed helps children engage in the activities you offer.
Such an environment can support your goals for children and free you to observe and interact with them in positive ways. A physical space divided into interest areas is an ideal setting for children who want to explore, make things, experiment, and pursue their own interests.

The overall emotional climate or feeling tone that exists in every classroom:
Pleasure - Distress Intrigue - Boredom Happiness - Sadness Excitement Love Fear

Is intangible, All teachers are aware of it, Powerfully affects student learning, productive work & their self-concept Effects last longer than the classrooms physical environment

~POSITIVE~ Warmth Caring Supportive Friendly Pleasant Sweet Encouragement

~NEGATIVE~

Cold & uncaring Harsh Punitive Aloof Sarcastic Threatening

Fear of making errors Hope they will not fail or be embarrassed Pray that if they do any mistake the teacher will not take reprisal against them

Fear has been used to motivate. But, for the most, achievement is suppressed; pleasure is nonexistent.
(Charles and Senter, Elementary Classroom Management, 2002 p.48)

Classrooms Function best when: Positive, Structured, Reflective Climate full of Warmth Support Pleasant Circumstances Low Levels of Fear

Human relation skills Teacher & student responsibilities in human relations Maintaining the psychosocial environment

Friendliness Calling others by name Smiling Speaking in a considerate way

Positive Attitude Looking on the bright side of things Problem solver

Ability to Listen Show genuine interest in the other person

Ability to Compliment Genuinely Provide explicit compliments

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General human relations skills Human relations skills with students Human relations skills with colleagues Human relations skills with parents

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Regular Attention: speak personally with each student everyday Genuine Caring: verbal and visual Willingness to Help: all students Verbal and Behavioral Reinforcement Modeling Courtesy and Good Manners

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Supporting Others Sharing the Load Compromising Leading or Following

C.M.Charles & Gail Senter

Teachers have the responsibility to communicate and work with the parents of the students they teach.

Creating the desired Environment Sustaining the Environment Enthusiasm Importance of each student Sense of Belonging Fairness

Responsibility Consistency Friendliness Success Understanding Help Humor

 LEARN
Contribute Responsible

Choices Dependability

Consideration Support Relate Positively Good Manners Polite Courteous

 Modeling Verbal

Reinforcement Classroom Meetings Class Building and Team Building Activities Private Discussions

 direct

experience Active Involvement Free to learn according to learning style, thinking style , interest and time

Fun with Play Physical

Exploration

Additional objects

Positive learning climate Strategy (Trostle & Yawkey-1981)

Elaboration

Object Modification

Oral

Active Involvement

Suitable Environment for Child Development

individual/ Group

Child Centered

Motivate students

Prepare,Construct & Control learning Environment

Feedback to Students

Role of Teacher Maintain certain limits Facilitator

Explore together

Show positive Attitudes

Benefits of good learning environment to Children

Think positively Towards self

Give views freely

Try new ideas

Happily seeking solutions to problems In lives

Enjoy fun/joy To have close relationships with students

Help create awareness among children

Benefits of Good Learning Environment For teachers

Reduce Discipline problems

Values uniqueness of each Child

A learning community is a group of people who share common values and beliefs, are actively engaged in learning together from each other. Student Learning is influenced by the environment Bronfenbrenners ecological theory clarifies the influence of sociocultural environment on individual learning and development

School/classroom is regarded as a form of family/ group of human beings grouped together sharing values, beliefs and learn actively among themselves and from others
School Community has four key factors that defined a sense of community: (a) membership/student/teacher (b) influence ( teacher, student) (c) fulfillment of individuals needs (d) shared events and emotional connections.

Bronfenbrenners structure of environment

Definition :

Theory that emphasizes on the influence of environment on the development of organism.

Bronfenbrenner (1970)

 Microsystem Mesosystem

Chronosystem

Macrosystem

Ecosystem

System closest to the child & has direct contact. The microsystem encompasses the relationships and interactions a child has with her immediate surroundings (Berk, 2000). Example: Microsystem for the child is the home and kintergarden or school.

Provides the connection between the structures of the childs micro system (Berk, 2000). Examples: Children: The connection between the childs teacher and his parents, between neighborhood Adult: Relationship with family, career and social life

The larger social system in which the child does not function directly. The structures in this layer impact the childs development by interacting with some structure in her micro system The child may not be directly involved at this level, but he does feel the positive or negative force involved with the interaction with his own system Example: Ecosystem of student includes parents work place

Involves abstract environment. Comprised of cultural values, customs, and laws Examples : Culture, world perspective, religion, law system, education system and national security.

this system encompasses the dimension of time as it relates to a childs environment.

Within this system can be either external, such as the timing of a parents death, or internal, such as the physiological changes that occur with the aging of a child. As children get older, they may react differently to environmental changes and may be more able to determine more how that change will influence them.

Bronfenbrenners ecological systems theory focuses on the quality and context of the childs environment. He states that as a child develops, the interaction within these environments becomes more complex. This complexity can arise as the childs physical and cognitive structures grow and mature.

Importance of first hand experiences and active learning

Stimulate childrens imaginations Involved in touching, taking apart, tasting, and smelling things in their here-andnow world.

Provide rich environments: - children are able to explore, touch, manipulate and experiment with different materials - children can ask questions, make hypothesis and form new concepts. - Children have to construct learning for themselves, with the focus of learning on the reasoning processes rather than on the end products. Provide time for children to engage in their explorations.

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imaginative and playful activities

Touch, Explore

Learn, practice

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groups of 3-4 persons, search the internet for information on a traditional game/play. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the game in the development of children. Demonstrate how the game is played & how it can develop children physically, socially and cognitively.