THE LEARNING

ENVIRONMENT

BY: Jeremie Esquivel Jose Jimmy Sambrano

Physical Environment

Physical condition of the classroom

The arrangement of furnitureSeating arrangement

The classroom temperature Lighting

We enjoy learning in a neat, tidy, orderly, spacious, well-lighted, well-ventilated and quiet classroom.

We can’t learn in dirty, topsy-turvy, warm, poorly ventilated and noisy classrooms.

Psychological Climate

Let us not forget that equally important, is the psychological atmosphere or climate that reigns in the classroom. Researchers agree that in addition to conducive physical environment, the favorable school climate includes:

1). Safety (e.g. rules and norms; physical safety; social-emotional safety);2. Relationships (e.g. respect for diversity; school connectedness / engagement; social support – adults; social support – students; leadership); and

3. Teaching and Learning

(e.g. social, emotional, ethical, and civic learning; support for learning; professional relationships)

Pine and Horne (1990)

describe a facilitative

learning environment

for learning. It is one:

1) which encourages people to be active - A psychological classroom environment which is supportive of learning engages the learners in the learning process.

2. which promotes and facilitates the individual’s discovery of the personal meaning of idea – Meaning is not imposed by teacher. This is personally arrived at by the learners considering the uniqueness of their experiences.

3. which emphasizes the uniquely personal and subjective nature of learning – Every learner is unique.

4. in which difference is good and desirable – There is respect for diversity. To be different does not mean to be deficient.

5. which consistently recognizes people’s right to make mistakes – Learners feel at ease and learn best when mistakes are welcome because they are recognized as part and parcel of the learning process.

6. which tolerates ambiguity – This leads to openness to ideas and prevents teacher and learners alike to be judgmental.

7. in which evaluation is a cooperative process with emphasis on self-evaluation – This makes evaluation less threatening. The learner is not alone when he evaluates learning, he is with a group. His/her progress is seen against his/her target not against the performance of his/her classmates.

8. which encourages openness of self rather than concealment of self - People feel at ease and so aren’t afraid to be transparent.

9. in which people are encouraged to trust in themselves as well as in external sources - There is a strong social support and it is not difficult to trust others.

10. in which people feel they are respected – Everyone is convinced of the inner worth/dignity of each individual and so it is easy to respect everyone.

11. in which people feel they are accepted - There is a sense of belongingness.

12. which permits confrontation – Since learners feel at ease and feel they are accepted, they are not afraid to confront themselves.

13. A conductive learning environment is necessary in the full development of the cognitive and appetitive faculties of the learner – his senses, instincts, imagination, memory, feelings, emotions and will.