Effective Environments for Student Learning

Alex Van Dusen

Vanguard University
EDUG 520
11/29/2016

How can I create and maintain effective environments for learning?

There are many different ways to create and maintain effective environments for learning.
In order to develop an effective classroom environment, it is important to first envision what an
effective learning environment looks like. What will the students be doing? How will the
students be interacting with each other? How will the teacher be engaging the students with the
content? There are various factors to consider when planning how to structure ones classroom
environment. Some of the factors are the physical environment, the classroom rules and behavior
expectations, and the work that the students will complete during each class. I believe that when
students are engaged with the content, when the physical environment promotes learning and
collaboration, and when behavior expectations are made clear, students will be able to perform at
the best of their abilities to complete each learning objective that the teacher makes for them.
The physical environment of a classroom should be carefully planned so that potential
distractions and disruptions in general may be limited to the least amount possible. Burden and
Byrd (2016) state that, Good room arrangement can help teachers cope with the complex
demands of teaching by minimizing interruptions, delays, and dead times (p. 239). There are
some important aspects of the class that should be kept in mind when planning the classrooms
physical environment. The teacher should ensure that high traffic areas are free of congestion by
formatting the room in a way that high need class-items, such as the trashcan and pencil
sharpener, are clear of obstructions. One other important factor to keep in mind when structuring
the layout of ones classroom is to ensure that all students will be visible by the teacher at all
times.
Student engagement, I believe, is the most important aspect of an effective learning
environment. When students are actively engaged in the content, then they are typically less-

easily distracted and less disruptive. For my classroom, I want to ensure that my students are
always working on something. There will never be opportunities for my students to be bored or
distracted with work from other classes. I will incorporate project-based learning, as well, so my
students will oftentimes be working with their peers to complete the class activities.
From the first day of the school year to the last day, teachers should establish and
maintain clear expectations and boundaries for student behavior. TPE 2: Creating and
Maintaining Effective Environments for Student Learning states that teachers need to (e)stablish
and maintain clear expectations for positive classroom behavior and for student-to-student and
student-to-teacher interactions by communicating classroom routines, procedures, and norms to
students and families (p. 13). Developing a classroom environment where students understand
the teachers expectations and respects them, as well, is a major preventative for wasted class
time. It is also important to keep in mind that these expectations are for the benefit of the
students--not simply for the teachers ease of mind. Expectations such as mutual respect and hard
work should be encouraged for the purpose of the whole class succeeding.
The main goals for teachers should concern the benefit of their students. For example,
one of my goals is to set my students up for success by teaching them science and by coaching
them how to excel in school and in their future careers. The process of establishing an effective
classroom environment is key to promoting the success of my students. Thus, by having clear
expectations, by keeping students engaged, and by structuring the classroom appropriately,
students have a better chance of learning and benefiting from instructional time.

References
Burden, P. R. (2016). Methods for effective teaching: Meeting the needs of all students, 7th
edition. Boston, MA: Pearson.

Preliminary Multiple Subject and Single Subject Credential Program Standards. (2016). Teacher
performance expectations (TPEs). Sacramento, CA: Commission on Teaching
Credentialing

Effective Environments for Student Learning

Alex Van Dusen
Vanguard University
EDUG 520
11/26/2016

How can I create and maintain effective environments for learning?

There are many different ways to create and maintain effective environments for learning.
In order to develop an effective classroom environment, it is important to first envision what an
effective learning environment looks like. What will the students be doing? What will the teacher
be doing? How will the students interact with one another? How will the teacher engage the
students with the content? What, if any, routines will there be that keep the students active?
There are various factors to consider when planning how to structure ones classroom
environment. Some of the factors are the physical environment, the classroom rules and behavior
expectations, and the work that the students will complete during each class. I believe that when
students are engaged with the content, when the physical environment promotes learning and
collaboration, and when behavior expectations are made clear, students will be able to perform at
the best of their abilities to complete each learning objective that the teacher makes for them.
The physical environment of a classroom should be carefully planned so that potential
distractions and disruptions in general may be limited to the least amount possible. Burden and
Byrd (2016) state that, Good room arrangement can help teachers cope with the complex
demands of teaching by minimizing interruptions, delays, and dead times (p. 239). There are
some important aspects of the class that should be kept in mind when planning the classrooms
physical environment. The teacher should ensure that the arrangement is aligned with the
learning goals and activities, that high-traffic areas, such as the pencil sharpener and the trashcan,
are free of congestion, that the students will all be visible by the teacher, that materials are
readily accessible, and that the presentational areas are visible by the class.
Student engagement, I believe, is the most important aspect of an effective learning
environment. When students are actively engaged in the content, then they are typically less-

easily distracted and less disruptive. For my classroom, I want to ensure that my students are
always working on something. There will never be opportunities for my students to be bored or
distracted with work from other classes. I will incorporate project-based learning, as well, so my
students will oftentimes be working with their peers to complete the class activities.
From the first day of the school year to the last day, teachers should establish and
maintain clear expectations and boundaries for student behavior. TPE 2: Creating and
Maintaining Effective Environments for Student Learning states that teachers need to (e)stablish
and maintain clear expectations for positive classroom behavior and for student-to-student and
student-to-teacher interactions by communicating classroom routines, procedures, and norms to
students and families (p. 13).
The main goals for teachers should concern the benefit of their students. For example,
one of my goals is to set my students up for success by teaching them science and by coaching
them how to excel in school and in their future careers. The process of establishing an effective
classroom environment is key to promoting the success of my students. Thus, by having clear
expectations, by keeping students engaged, and by structuring the classroom appropriately,
students have a better chance of learning and benefiting from instructional time.

References
Burden, P. R. (2016). Methods for effective teaching: Meeting the needs of all students, 7th
edition. Boston, MA: Pearson.
Preliminary Multiple Subject and Single Subject Credential Program Standards. (2016). Teacher
performance expectations (TPEs). Sacramento, CA: Commission on Teaching
Credentialing

Author __Alex Van Dusen_

Peer Colleague___Grace Loflin___

Written Portfolio Reflections

Criteria

Accomplished

Competent

Emerging

Conventions:
Standard
academic
English
grammar and
correct APA
format

I think you used

correct grammar,
but you need to
fix sentence
structure. APA
looks correct.

Content:
Wellorganized and
referenced in
theory and
practice

The content was

good and it
flowed from
your thesis, but
there was one
paragraph that
shouldnt be a
paragraph. It
only had one
sentence.
You need more
TPEs, but they
were used
correctly and
linked to the
question.

Application:
Referenced
and connected
to the
question.
Linked to
TPEs.
Resources:
Correctly
formatted with
text and in
Reference
page

Good job on
reference page
and in text
citations.

Below
(redo)
1

Additional Comments: I think your intro and conclusion paragraphs were the strongest
ones. The supporting paragraphs are weaker and need some sentence restructuring.