Positive Learning Environment – Why is it Important?
Why is a positive learning environment important for learners? Well, an environment where students do not feel accepted or respected is a distraction from learning. A positive learning environment means that a student feels comfortable, has a sense of rapport with their teacher and peers, and believes they can be successful (Elizabeth F. Barkley, 2010. Student Engagement Techniques) According to Barkley (2010), a positive learning leads to endorphins in the blood which in turn gives feelings of euphoria and stimulates the frontal lobe. Essentially, learning becomes a pleasurable experience rather than of one where the student fights or flees.
Building a sense of community in the classroom is necessary to foster healthy attitudes towards learning.
Imagine a negative environment where students feel anxious, and disrespected by their teacher and peers. The environment could become very competitive. Imagine trying to employ techniques of active learning where collaborative learning and support is necessary. The environment would be not foster this approach. As well, students would unlikely be intrinsically motivated when they are feeling the impacts of a negative learning environment.
In this TedTalks video, Shawn Achor talks about how a happiness means success and not the other way around. This places an emphasis on what educators need to do: create a sense of positivity in students to encourage their success.
Here’s an excerpt of Achor’s speech:
If you can raise somebody’s level of positivity in the present, then their brain experiences what we now call a happiness advantage, which is your brain at positive performs significantly better than it does at negative, neutral or stressed.
Achor gives us some ideas as to how to provide someone with a happiness advantage:
- writing down three things you are gracious for everyday for 21 days
- journaling about one positive experience you’ve had over the past 24 hours
- exercising
- meditation
- random acts of kindness
Some of these things could be incorporated into the classroom. For example, journaling about a positive outcome from the course each day. This could be something the student has learned. Random act of kindness could mean having students do something nice for another student in the class whether it be providing positive feedback, helping another understand a course concept, etc.
Looking for other ways to create a positive learning environment? Look for related posts by clicking on the Positive Learning Environment category in the sidebar.
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