The most important role of our job is to improve students' learning. It
seems to me that improving students' learning can be done by support,
influence, encouragement and inspiration of teachers and that can be done by a
variety of methods.
One technique is by assisting teachers to develop the knowledge and
skills that are necessary to make changes in their practice which consequently
led to improve students' learning. Another process is to increase students'
motivation and attitude towards learning.
However, over our time teaching we are noticing that classroom
environments change from class to class, year to year, school to school.
From previous observations and classroom set ups we recognized that most
of the classrooms can be messy, untidy, static and displays on
the wall were old or were unable to be reached to be changed. Students' bags were displayed in
classrooms and there was always a large collection of collected materials.
Children had little or no choice in where they learn or how they learn. All
classes had similar sitting arrangement which was sitting in groups or rows;
however students did their work individually and without talking to each other. This varied from class to class teacher to teacher.
In my meeting with teachers and some advisors, we discussed the
classroom environment and its relation with students' outcome. I noticed that
from our discussions and the examples of research it indicated that education
that encompassed the broad range of skills that a teacher needs to create a
productive learning environment in which it influences learning and promotes
positive behavior relates to classroom environment, children’s choice and a
collaborative approach is what makes a difference.
We had some discussions around how to reflect on how they were learning.
We also looking at the classroom from a different points of view, some teachers
said: Parents may have concerns about the results of assessment
and they do not ask or try to know how student got their marks or that they are
evaluated based on the results of the students not on how the classroom was or
how students were seating in the classroom.
We realized that we lacked an understanding of the relationship between
the classroom learning environment and students' outcomes. In other words, how
the classroom environment could be used as a tool for facilitating teaching and
learning interactions.
We recognized that some of the teachers within our syndicate do not
understand or neglected the relationship between classroom learning environment
and student’s motivation with their learning. We also realized that some taught
in traditional classrooms in which teaching and learning was mostly teacher-dominated.
Thus classroom learning environment became a challenge that needs
investigation. My colleague and I decided to form an action research study
which helps to address the change of the classroom environemnt and seeks to
obtain solutions to how it engages children with their learning.
We searched the library and the internet for studies and articles that
related to classroom learning environment; we found many studies that examined
many aspects of the classroom learning environment; Elizabeth et all (1998)
pointed out that primary students, who do not move from classroom to classroom,
can spend between 900 and 1,200 hours in the same room each year; therefore,
students have a right to study in an environment that is safe and meet their
needs. We also talked to our classes and
this provided strong support for students' perceptions of classrooms and how
these relate to the learning outcomes. Other studies suggested that purposeful
attention to the learning environment can improve both teacher and student
performance, attitude, and motivation. A sense of community, along with
appropriate instruction can help students succeed. Savage (1999) studies
thought the arrangement of the environment of the classroom as a
way to improve the learning environment and to prevent problem behaviors before
they occur. it was also pointed out that the classroom environment acts as a
symbol to students and others regarding what teachers value in behavior and
learning.
Parliament's education and science committee
chairwoman Nikki Kaye announced "I can see the benefit of having an
inquiry that investigates issues such as the best flexible teaching spaces, how
handheld devices can promote more independent learning, new online learning
opportunities and other technologies and infrastructure that better support
teaching and learning in the 21st century,"
