Effective Learning in our classroom

In one of my teacher’s reflection, she spoke about the importance of effective learning in the classroom. She described the arrangements she had made to establish and maintain an environment in which learning can occur , e.g. clarifying lesson using the doubt cards and effective preparation of lessons with AfL in mind so that her students are actively engaged in learning. I categorized all of these arrangements as effective classroom management. I will like to follow up on this topic of effective learning and how the two different aspects of classroom management (effective communication and motivation) mentioned by my teacher are related to interacting with our students.

One aspect is teacher’s ability to communicate effectively with students to enhance their knowledge, skills and understanding. Most teachers tend to believe that they communicate well. However, to me, communication is a complex process. There is a need for all teachers to develop such skills and techniques. The same lesson plan with the same presentation materials delivered by different teachers may not have the same outcome due to difference in the teacher’s ability to communicate. Moreover, even with the best planned lesson, how our students react on any situation on any given day is sometimes not predictable. Hence, getting direct feedback from the students regarding their learning e.g. by doubt cards and providing clear objectives of the lesson helps the effective communication between the teacher and student in the class.

Some students are motivated to learn and maintain that motivation while others are inherently motivated to learn but various factors result in them losing motivation. Still others may not be inherently motivated to learn, but their motivation can be increased by certain teachers. Hence, it is important that we as teachers, understand more about the motivational learning environment in the class and how this influences student motivation.  And through specific methods to motivate our students extrinsically (i.e. use of doubt card feedback, showing concern, encouragement) result in our students developing their intrinsic motivation so that they take ownership of the learning in the classroom.

I recognize my teacher’s consideration of her students’ behavior for learning and the positive approach she employed which focuses on positive relationship with her students that create a positive classroom climate in which all students can learn effectively.