1-3 Learning Environment

The candidate works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative
learning, includes teacher and student use of technology, and encourages positive social
interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.

In order for significant learning to take place, there must be an effective learning environment.
Since classrooms extend beyond an individual basis, one must work with others to create an
environment that can support both collaborative and individual learning. This learning
environment should also incorporate technology, as well as encourage positive social
interactions, an active engagement in learning, and self-motivation. I have developed the skills
and understanding necessary to create a learning environment such as this.

One of the biggest ways I promote this type of learning environment is through the way in which
I interact with my students. My outgoing, charismatic, and positive personality help me to serve
as an example to my students. Through my good social skills, I model to my students what it
looks like to work well with others to create a positive learning atmosphere. Within this
environment, there must be both collaborative and individual learning. I have also gained
experience and practice in developing creative ways to incorporate technology into my teaching
and student involvement. This use of technology is one way I create active engagement in
learning for my students. I encourage positive social interactions by modeling positive social
interactions with my students. Through developing relationships with each of my students,
treating each of them with respect, and encouraging them I demonstrate how to interact with
their peers in a positive manner. Finally, I encourage active engagement in learning by
developing lessons that get my students up and involved in experiential learning. Along with this
I teach my students self-motivation by creating activities they enjoy and instill in them the desire
to improve.

The first artifact below is an example of a technology integration lesson I drew up that
encourages student use of technology and positive social interaction as students learn about the
recording process. The next artifact is some of the feedback I have received from my cooperating
teacher while student teaching. This feedback has helped guide me to understand how to create a
better learning environment for my students. One of the ways I work to do this is to ensure that
there is zero talking amongst the students while I’m giving instruction. By “bringing them all the
way to zero” I am allowing the students the opportunity to focus on the learning. The final
artifact is example of me working to create a positive learning environment by reminding
students of the respect we should each treat one another with. The 9:00 mark of the video
displays my attitude toward creating this in my classroom.