Teaching and Learning Handbook (A Best Practice Guide)
The Physical Environment
It is worth considering what can be done to make the physical environment support teaching and learning.
For classroom based activities consider the following questions:
- Are staffing levels appropriate?
- Does the room layout support the planned activities?
- How flexible is the room layout?
- Do you use activities that suit the room or do you adapt the room to suit the activities?
- Is the room tidy and uncluttered?
- Does the room contain imagesand material relevant to the subjectand approriate to the learner group (age, level, current)?
- Does the room contain any examples of student work?
- Can you use wall displays in your teaching?
- Do areas that are used for practical activities comply with health and safety regulations?
- Are sufficient resources available?
For activities outside a classroom setting consider the following questions:
- Are staffing levels appropriate?
- How do you establish the boundaries of the learning area?
- How do you minimise the distraction your students might experience?
- How do you monitor students' involvement in the work?
- How do you monitor issues of health and safety?
- Are sufficient resources available?
The college's Student Learning Agreement outlines the general behaviour expected from our students. It might be beneficial to re-enforce these and add any subject-specific issues. Possibly, you could negotiate a set of class rules from the start of the course. This might be considered too much like a school approach, but has the benefits of engaging the students in a discussion of appropriate behaviour and setting a context for the consequences of inappropriate behaviour. The rules, and consequences for breaking them, could then be displayed in the classroom.
Inappropriate behaviour might include:
- Poor attendance
- Lateness
- Food and drink in class (except for water)
- Lack of work in class
- Lack of work outside class
- Rudeness to you or other students
- Use of phones or ipods
- Threatening language or behaviour
- Behaviour or activities that is a disruption to other learners
Example of Class Rules
1. Arrive on time.
2. Switch off phones, ipods etc.
3. Pay attention to the teacher.
4. Get ready to work (get out pen, paper, text).
5. Show respect to other members of the class.
6. Take an active part in class activities.
7. Help other students when you can.
8. Keep all work up-to-date and organised.
9. Complete all coursework assessments by deadlines
10. No food or drink in the classroom
It is imperative that all staff within course teams and across courses adhere to the above guidelines inorder for them to be effective within the teaching environment.