Creating a Positive Learning Environment

In the world of higher education today, adult educators know full-well that if you want adults to learn you need to create a positive learning environment for the learning to take place.

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It is clear to see that the professors at The Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching Effectiveness at the University of Saskatchewan have this down pact. In the video clip, the instructors share the tools and techniques they use to help create a comfortable space for positive learning experiences to take shape. Some examples of how this positive environment is formed include: be enthusiastic in the classroom (students will catch on if you are not enthusiastic yourself), put all the foundational pieces together beforehand (be organized – prepare outside the classroom before you get there), reward students by acknowledging their contribution when they answer questions or share their stories, get to know students by their first names (to engage them, ask them to share something about themselves, so they feel valued), take attendance to focus on each student, be accessible, be open and understanding of their needs, and make it comfortable and a safe place to learn.

All of these great examples make me reflect to think that the reason these techniques work so well is because they build off from Knowles’ (1980) six assumptions of adult learners characteristics (i.e. the building blocks of adult learning). The assumptions are “self-concept… reservoir of experience… readiness of the adult… immediacy of application… internal motivation… [and] need to know” (Merriam & Bierema, 2014, p. 47). By incorporating these strategies throughout the learning, and paying careful attention to the way in how adults like to learn (i.e. the six assumptions as listed above), the instructors are tapping to what is important to their adult learners and meeting their needs; hence, learning is bound to take place.

When I look at my recent learning experience taking PIDP 3220 Delivery of Instruction – it is clear to see that my instructor (Joanne) is very conscientious in the planning and delivery of her lessons to ensure she creates a positive learning environment for us all. She has used many of the techniques above and has done a fantastic job is setting the stage to make certain that we are in a respectful, collaborative, safe, and fun learning space. I am really excited to be able to watch face-to-face someone who is authentic and truly engaged with her learners. One who coaches and mentors the class and is a great role model for us, as we begin to learn on how to become good adult educators ourselves.

http://www.usask.ca/gmcte/resources/teaching/environment