Standard E: Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments for Student Learning

TPE 10: Instructional Time

TPE 11: Social Environment

Journal Reflection:

How can technology help educators create and maintain an effective environment for student learning?

The creation and maintenance of effective learning environments is not an easy task. For some teachers, this comes by trial-and-error. For some others, this comes through research and intentional practices. It is often said that actively engaging students in the learning process leads to fewer behavioral problems. But there are so many other factors to consider. For instance, Sousa (2006) recommends that educators understand such concepts as the primacy-recency effect, the time needed for reflection and transfer, the positive effects of rehearsal, and the difference between increasing the complexity and increasing the difficulty of tasks. All of these ideas can greatly enhance the learning situation while effectively managing instructional time. In addition, the appropriate implementation of these concepts can facilitate a more positive environment overall for students. Computers and related technological devices can be utilized for instruction of key concepts; on-line sites can provide a “safe” environment for student reflection and collaboration; various tools (especially software programs and educational websites) provide means for active rehearsal; and, teachers can implement complex tasks that integrate technology. In addition, students can work in small groups to gather and analyze data, perform research, discuss hypotheses, test their ideas, and create presentations – all the while using the myriad of technological innovations available today. Additionally, the web contains huge amounts of information related to these (and other) topics of great concern to educators.

Useful Websites:

http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/103008/chapters/Managing_Instructional_Time.aspx
http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning
http://www.edutopia.org/social-emotional-learning
http://www.edutopia.org/tech-integration
http://www.pecentral.org/climate/index.html