EDN:204 – Learning Process
B.Ed (S) Sci
----------------------------------------------------Topic
- Creating Positive Environment
- Student Diversity
Creating a Positive Learning Environment
• Meaning.
• Why create a Positive Learning Environment?
• Types of Learning Environment.
• Tips to address environmental preferences in the
classroom.
• Designing the Physical Environment of the
Classroom.
• Advantage of Positive Psychosocial Environment.
• Guidelines to establish positive relationship with
students.
• Ten Subtle Ways to Create a Positive Learning
Environment.
What do you think makes a positive
learning environment?
“Turn and Talk” with a partner
Brainstorm together, What do you think
makes a positive classroom learning
environment?
Positive Learning Climate vs. Negative
Classroom Learning Climate
What Did You Learn?
At each table visually depict what you
learned from the article you read.
Record on chart paper.
Gallery Walk to View Ideas
Creating a Positive Learning
Environment
“Teachers create learning
environments that encourage positive
social interaction, active engagement
in learning, and self-motivation”
Meaning
A positive learning environment is one in which:
• Every pupil is valued.
• Emphasize on successes, appropriate
behavior and accomplished.
• Pupils have right to be taught and to learn
without being disrupted by others and viceversa.
• Pupils are responsible for their behavior.
• Parents, pupils and the community together
have defined goals for learning environment
(school, home and community).
• Parents, pupils and the community together
have defined goals for learning environment
(school, home and community).
• Great value is placed on effective teaching
(belonging, feel supported, and positive
relationship with adults).
• Staff and parents are jointly responsible to teach
(social skills, self-discipline, compassion and
ethics).
• Support effective teaching and behaviour
management (administrators, the district and
head office).
Why create a positive learning environment?
• Classroom environment is a significant
element in the learning process for a student.
• Supports positive social interaction (students
& teachers).
• Encourages active student engagement.
• Allows students to assume more of the
responsibility for instruction than the teacher.
• Creates self-motivation.
Types of Learning Environment
Physical Environment
• Arranging the Physical Space.
• Desk Placement.
• Environmental Preferences.
• Temperature.
• Lighting
• Noise level.
Tips to address environmental preferences
in the classroom:
• Create both well-lit and dimly-lit areas in
the classroom.
• Provide opportunities for children to move
around.
• Help students become aware of their own
temperature preferences.
Basic Principles: Designing the Physical Environment
of the Classroom (Santrock, 2001, p.434)
• Reduce congestion in high-traffic areas.
• Make sure that you can easily see all
students.
• Make often-used teaching materials and
student supplies easily accessible.
• Make sure that students can easily observe
whole-class presentations.

Psychosocial environment
The classroom which encourages
positive social interaction
between the teacher and students,
and between the students
themselves.
Psychosocial Environment & Teacher Pupil
Relationship
• Determine the quality of classroom climate.
• Relationship based on mutual respect, trust
care, faith, confidence, and recognition in
one another’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Determine quality of teaching and learning
in the classroom.
Advantage of Positive Psychosocial Environment
• A deep sense of respect and love for the
teachers and other students in the class.
• Active student participation.
• Student initiated interaction between the
teacher and students.
• Students ask questions and clear their
doubts with hesitation.
• Finds teacher very approachable and
friendly.
• Students obey code of conduct and shows
very minimal behavioural problems.
• Expresses ideas and opinions more freely.
• Teaching and learning tasks are carried out
more cooperatively and collaboratively.
• Students and teacher have a shared goal to
accomplish in learning.
Guidelines to establish positive relationship
with students (Santrock, 2001, p.444)
• Give student a friendly “Hello” at the door or
anytime/anywhere you meet them.
• Have a brief-one-on-one conversation about
happenings in the student’s life.
• Write a brief note of encouragement to the
student.
• Use students’ names when calling students.
• Show enthusiasm about being with students.
• Risk more personal self-disclosures, which
help students see you as a real person.
• Be an active listener.
• Let students know that you are there to
support and help them.
• Students from high-risk environment might
not initially trust your motives.
Ten Subtle Ways to Create a Positive
Learning Environment
• Begin your week by “Nesting”.
• Use students’ names.
• Catch them being good.
• Dignify wrong answers.
• Give students a second chance to answer
correctly.
• Don’t “Zap” students.
• Phrase your questions in a manner that is
non-threatening.
• Allow for thinking time.
• Don’t repeat answers.
• Give the students choices.
Of All The Things You Learned, What Has
Meaning In Your Classroom?
Identify tips you have learned about creating a
positive learning climate.
Create an organizer to answer this question.
“Stand UP, Hand UP, Pair Up” and share those
ideas.
Take time to add any new ideas you may have
to your organizer.
Stand Up – Hand Up – Pair Up
Stand Up upon completing your individual
organizer.
Hand Up to indicate that you need a
partner.
Pair Up and share your organizer.
EXIT CARD
You have been learning about creating a
positive learning climate.
List three things you have learned:
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Write one question you have about this topic.
Creating a positive learning environment is the cornerstone of effective teaching. A
positive environment is fostered when learning outcomes and expectations are
clearly communicated to the student. Students have a wide range of learning needs
and styles, and this diversity must be taken into account in employing a variety of
teaching strategies. The size of the classroom, the arrangement of the furniture, the
functioning of equipment and other physical aspects of the class all contribute to, or
detract from, the learning environment. When these factors can be manipulated to
be positive influences, an environment more conducive to learning will be created.
A positive learning environment is one in which all students have an equal
opportunity to succeed. As conscientious teachers, we need to become aware of
our own assumptions and guard against acting out our own biases. We must avoid
creating or tolerating a climate in the classroom which in any way results in the
unfair treatment of an individual because of his or her identity. A positive learning
environment is one in which all students have an equal opportunity to succeed. As
conscientious teachers, we need to become aware of our own assumptions and
guard against acting out our own biases. We must avoid creating or tolerating a
climate in the classroom which in any way results in the unfair treatment of an
individual because of his or her identity.
In order for learning to become accessible to a student, it needs to be presented
in an atmosphere free from fear or humiliation. Students need clear expectations
of learning outcomes so they can measure these against the skills they already
have in order to establish their learning goals. Students also require access to the
physical resources necessary to achieve their learning goals.
High academic standards can only be maintained within a learning atmosphere
which honours the diversity and integrity of each individual, builds self-esteem,
provides productive and purposeful learning activities, and prepares students for
responsible citizenship.
Whatever level of motivation your students bring to the classroom will be
transformed for better or worse, by what happens in that classroom.