Importance of Learning Environment for Young Children
“When the atmosphere encourages learning, the learning is inevitable.”- said Elizabeth Foss.
A positive learning environment is the backbone of a robust teaching strategy. Without a favorable learning atmosphere, children maneuver education aimlessly and importance of learning environment and culminating in unsatisfactory outcomes.
But what is a learning environment and why is it so important? Let us delve into the answers.
Read further to understand what a learning environment is. Why is it so important? What are the attributes and components of a positive learning environment? And, how can it be achieved?
What is a learning environment?
In simplest words, a learning environment is an educational approach and context in which children learn in their classrooms. Schools aim to create a learning environment that could optimize the learning ability of children.
Importance of learning environment
A positive learning environment multiplies the outcomes of education by leaps and bounds. It enhances learning, engagement, and enjoyment, making the entire process more enriching.
Furthermore, a structured and organized learning environment is paramount in instilling a sense of fulfillment and ease among children. It creates avenues for children to learn, bond, and connect with each other and teachers, which fosters a joyful and optimistic environment that catalyzes learning. All these things boost the overall academic performance of children.
Hence, it is the biggest responsibility of schools to create a positive learning environment where children can learn, develop, and grow, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Here are the characteristics of a positive learning environment-
Amicable student-teacher relationship
Teachers are the first role models for students. They work as molds and shape the entire life of their pupils. A strong student-teacher relationship always works in favor of children.
Teachers should aim to create an amicable relationship with their pupils to devise a cheerful, fun, and relaxed environment in the classroom. If children feel valued and heard, they tend to succeed in academics and other activities. Moreover, it also promotes the overall well-being of children.
Small gestures, like welcoming children in class with a broad smile, showing excitement on meeting and teaching them, and thanking them for their attention go a long way in fostering a positive classroom environment, which in turn enhances the learning experience.
A personalized learning environment
Schools with a positive learning environment adopt a personalized teaching approach. They create teaching strategies and learning environment according to the tailored needs of students. For instance, offering extra attention to children with special educational needs, being vigilant with children with special physical or mental challenges, etc.
Schools where teachers understand the individual demands and requirements of their pupils and act accordingly are the epitome of a healthy learning environment.
Acknowledgment
To make learning conducive to a positive outcome, even smaller achievements of children should be acknowledged and appreciated. Acknowledgment and appreciation foster a positive attitude toward learning.
A good learning environment is where teachers recognize the efforts their pupils put in and praise them irrespective of how grand the outcome is to boost their confidence.
Accessibility and engagement
An accessible curriculum accelerates the learning capabilities of children. Students who have access to their curriculum grow into curious and quick learners.
Furthermore, their curiosity inspires engagement, creating a favorable learning ecosystem.
Creativity
Several studies have proved a strong connection between creativity and motivation to learn. Creative children are more likely to imbibe knowledge and enjoy their learning experience.
A classroom where creativity is valued more than orthodox teaching strategies produces smart individuals.
No fear of errors
Children are bound to make mistakes. A healthy learning environment is tolerant of errors.
When children realize that they can make mistakes, they tend to learn from them. On the other hand, children who fear the punishment, focus more on the negative aspects and fail to pick a lesson.
A positive learning environment allows children to make mistakes, rework them, and take a life lesson. This approach facilitates growth and protects the mental well-being of children.
Rules, regulations, and routines
A positive learning environment does not mean a laid-back and chaotic environment. An undisciplined and unrestrained class can never cultivate good and responsible individuals.
Routine, rules, and regulations are the backbone of a positive learning environment. A classroom where children know how to behave, sit, learn, and listen creates an ideal environment for achievers.
Freedom
Decision-making is one of the most essential skills that defines life on many levels. The earlier a person picks up this skill, the better.
On a classroom level, the skill of decision-making comes from freedom. A classroom where children are presented with choices and encouraged to make their decisions produces rational and resilient individuals. Plus, it creates a relaxed and positive learning environment.
Components of the learning environment
The learning environment comprises the following elements-
Physical environment
As the name suggests, it encompasses the physical elements of the classroom, which means the design and layout of the classrooms.
As children spend most of their time in classrooms, the importance of classroom cannot be underestimated. By creating a positive class environment, schools nurture the entire learning process of the students. It aims at making children feel comfortable, relaxed, and focused inside the classrooms and creating a space that caters to the varied learning needs of children.
A positive physical environment translates to a spacious, well-organized, and comfortable learning space. An efficacious physical environment is created by considering light, air quality, noise, and temperature inside the classroom. It also includes well-organized physical elements, like furniture, floor treatment, wall, and window treatments, etc.
Here is how schools can create a positive physical environment-
- Providing comfortable seating arrangements to children, which entails comfortable benches with proper backrests, desks that can accommodate the belongings of the students, and height-adjustable furniture for different age groups.
- Using cushioned play mats and cushioned seating options for kindergarten classrooms.
- Having large windows to let in ample natural light along with quality artificial lighting.
- Using good quality blackboard, whiteboard, projectors, and other teaching aids.
Social environment
A healthy social environment comes round when the social components of the class are in perfect harmony. It creates a healthy environment where kids can interact and forge a bond of understanding, mutual love, and respect with their peers and teachers.
An effectual social environment is contingent on the orientation, versatility, and open-endedness of the space; and on how it metamorphoses into a purlieu for interactions and activities within the classroom.
Here is how schools can create a positive social environment-
- Creating a flexible furniture layout plan. For instance, leaving a leeway space to reconfigure the furniture layout to create a collaborative space for activities and interactions between.
- Placing the desks and chairs in a way that boosts day-to-day interactions between children.
- Having aids in the classroom that cater to the personal needs of children.
- Having modules for social activities, such as interactive games.
- Providing independent learning aids.
Emotional environment
A positive emotional environment makes children receptive to learning and interacting with their peers and teachers. It comes from keeping children motivated to learn.
Creating an environment where children can value edification and aim at making the most of their learning years can reinforce their love for learning. It also helps in inflicting responsibility, focus, and resilience in children. Within a robust emotional environment, children become independent and thrive.
Here is how schools can create a positive emotional environment-
- Being available to students always. Children should know that they have someone to solve their problems and motivate them to face challenges.
- Creating strategies to keep children motivated to learn and grow.
- Creating support groups in school where children can share their problems and issues and seek help.
- Offering one-on-one support to children who need help.
Temporal environment
The temporal environment is characterized by flexible routines and transitions. It involves the sequence, timing, and length of day-to-day activities and routines. Optimizing the temporal environment helps in maximizing the positive effects of learning.
Here is how schools can create a positive temporal environment-
- Creating flexible day-to-day routines to accommodate changes and transitions.
- Fabricating a space that can be effectively used for routines and extra activities.
How can schools create an overall good learning environment?
A positive, steadfast, and potent learning environment can be achieved by making effectual changes in every component- physical, social, emotional, and temporal- of the learning environment.
If you want to understand what a positive learning environment is, who better than students can answer it?
Ask children about how they fancy their learning environment.
What are the elements in the classroom that affect their mood, both positively and negatively?
Are they happy with their current learning experience?
Do they feel productive in the current environment?
What is the one thing about the classroom that they would like to change?
Answers to these questions can act as the roadmap to achieving a positive and productive learning environment.
The bottom line
Creating a positive learning environment in a classroom is essential to ensure that children make the most of their learning experience. Moreover, the classroom environment is also the determinant of the success or failure of an educator.
By understanding the importance of learning environment and figuring out the right tactics to create one, teachers can help students succeed in their learning journey.