Summary
- Importance of a Positive Learning Environment
- Good Learning Environment
- Characteristics of A Good Learning Environment
Importance of A Positive Learning Environment
The basic requirement for effective learning is a positive and healthy environment. Students study well in such an environment devoid of distractions.
A positive learning environment can be a classroom or a library. The place needs to be calm and safe for the child to study without any interruptions.
Ideally, a place without background noise, like music or traffic would be a positive learning environment. Such an environment will allow the student to focus and concentrate on their studies.
Meanwhile, a positive learning environment also needs good teachers and teaching materials. Thus when put together, a positive environment that promotes learning is created.
Students are greatly influenced by their teachers and are only as good as their teachers. A student’s achievement is the direct result of a teacher’s influence over the student.
It is important to have a positive learning environment for it develops trust and rapport among students and with the teacher as well.
Students will not learn well if they do not feel accepted or respected. However, if a teacher can provide a safe, caring, challenging, supportive environment then the student will be eager to learn in such a positive learning environment.
Good Learning Environment
In a learning environment, students interact and engage to learn new skills. But if the classroom is a scenario where the students copy what the teacher writes on the blackboard, then such a system’s efficacy is questionable.
So What Type of Learning Environment Is Best for Your Child?
The education system has evolved for the good over the ages and has become more student-oriented.
In the present world, schools aim to make students’ learning experience effective by making the course more interactive. This is done by focusing on engaging the students in different activities.
Typically, learning is focused around an institution, its teachers, labs, and the classroom. But this does not cover a student’s education completely.
It has a broader approach including the learner’s characteristics, activities that promote learning, learning and teaching goals, and assessment methods that further learning.
Thus a good learning environment is where a student gains new knowledge and skills since their interest has been captured by their teachers.
On the other hand, if students are not learning new skills or knowledge, then their interest in learning will be remote.
Important Factors for A Good Learning Environment
Certain factors make a positive learning environment. Applying these factors will improve the students learning efficiency. Some of the important factors for a good learning environment are:
1. Supportive Learning Environment
All the students in the class should feel connected to each other. They should realize that they are contributing to the overall learning environment of the class.
Meanwhile, teachers can assist whenever required and also conduct activities like debates and QnA to encourage the students to help each other.
2. Fulfill Student’s Needs
Besides adults, young students have a mental need for security and order. They also seek love and belonging, competence and freedom among others.
A teacher needs to fulfill these needs of a student and in doing so, reduce the number of behavioral incidences from occurring. It will also develop a positive learning attitude in them.
3. Maintain Positivity
Students react better to appreciation than punitive measures. With appreciation comes motivation but humiliation leads to discouragement.
Also, learners develop a better learning attitude when they are allowed to put forth their opinions as well as their peers.
It is vital to maintain positivity in the learning environment through appreciation than through harassment or teasing. The latter is one of the major causes of course dropouts.
4. Feedback
Feedback connects teachers and learners. By providing feedback the learner knows their progress and check if they need any change in the method of learning or assistance for improvement.
It helps in noting weak areas while further developing skills simultaneously.
5. Safety
Safety is naturally provided in a good learning environment. Students will succeed academically only if they feel safe physically and mentally.
Generally, schools look after the physical safety of the learners but do not give enough attention to mental safety.
It is worth noting that to enjoy a physically safe learning environment, students must first feel respected, welcomed, and supported.
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Characteristics of A Good Learning Environment
A good learning environment for students has its characteristics. Students look forward to learning in such environments.
They feel their existence is acknowledged and their opinions valued. Here are 7 Characteristics of a good learning environment.
1. Students’ Curiosity Heightened
In a good learning environment, students are more likely to ask questions out of curiosity. The questions would not be cliche or mundane and a teacher would not have to force a student to ask a question.
It stands to reason that if students are not asking good questions then information transfer has not happened as expected.
2. Questions Bear More Value
A good question only further improves learning. Thus the value of a good question is more than an answer.
Create an environment where no matter how silly a question, a student must not feel ashamed to ask. Give additional marks for a question asked by the student on one’s answer paper.
3. Different Learning Models Used
Not all students are equal or learn the same way. Thus students need a tailor-made approach to make their learning experience comfortable.
Different models of learning can be used like project-based learning, inquiry-based learning, direct instruction, peer-to-peer learning, eLearning, and other methods.
Hence, the effectiveness of a good learning environment lies in diversity.
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4. Positive Assessment
To understand what the student has learned, they need to be assessed. The feedback that the assessment provides will show the students where lies their strengths and weakness.
However, the feedback must be never used as punitive. It needs to be transparent and real. It is an opportunity to improve the students’ abilities.
Bear in mind that the assessment is not for marks earned but to understand the tone of the classroom.
5. More Practice Opportunities
While learning students come across complex ideas. However, in a good learning environment, the ideas will be approached from multiple angles.
The repetition of the topic gives more time for the students to learn it thoroughly and with critical thinking.
Besides, they will also come across information from different sources which will further enhance their understanding.
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Conclusion
The importance of a positive learning environment cannot be understated. The characteristics of a good learning environment will develop a good attitude towards learning.
So if you are wondering about what type of learning environment is best for your child, then this article will show you what a positive learning environment is and how it is a good learning environment for students.
