Literature Review for TPE 2 1

Literature Review for TPE 2

Amanda Waller

National University
Literature Review for TPE 2 2

Abstract

This paper will look at two articles on creating effective learning environments. The first articles

look at the importance of creating a safe learning environment by modeling expectations for students.

The second article talks about the importance of setting up routines and polices so that students know

what is expected of them. Both articles talk about the importance of the classroom environment on

student learning. This paper also justifies the artifacts chosen to showcase TPE 2 Creating and

Maintaining Effective Environments for Student Learning.

Literature Review for TPE 2 3

As teachers it is important to set expectations for students. These expectations should lay the

foundation of a safe learning environment for all students. The article “Creating and Maintaining a Safe

Space in Experiential Learning” talks about the importance of a safe space and how it contributes to

deeper learning. When students don’t have to worry about their safety in an environment they can

solely focus on learning. Another article that talks about the importance of the classroom environment

“Classroom Management Setting Up the Classroom for Learning”. Both of these articles make valid

points on the importance of the learning environment and how it aids students in the learning process.

The article “Creating and Maintaining a Safe Space in Experiential Learning” discusses what a

safe space might look like in experiential learning. Experiential learning allows students to have access

to real life scenarios. They are able to take what they are learning and directly apply it to real world

situations which can allow for a deeper understanding of what is being taught. Often times when

students work together in an experiential learning environment there are issues. The issues can range

from competitiveness to an exercise of authority. In these circumstances’ students may start to act out

or become defensive which can have an ill effect on the students learning. It is important to lay down

ground rules to help mitigate these situations so that students are able to get the most out of the

learning environment. A safe space “can be developed and maintained by creating a strong container

early on, establishing ground rules, providing lessons in listening and witnessing, teaching by example,

and developing a reflexive attitude” (Kisfalvi & Oliver, 2015, p. 728). The article states that these spaces

must be created intentionally and suggest ways to obtain safe spaces. A couple of suggestions were to

teach be example where the instructor would model appropriate behavior for certain circumstance.

This would allow students to work through any issues using techniques the teacher has modeled for

them. Another way to help students would be to establish ground rules. These rules would allow

students to have a reference of what is acceptable during these learning opportunities and what is not.

The article found that when teachers set the stage by laying ground rules and modeling acceptable
Literature Review for TPE 2 4

behavior during these learning opportunities students were able to share their thoughts in a safe space

which allowed them to have a deeper understanding of what they were learning.

The article “Creating and Maintaining a Safe Space in Experiential Learning” provides evidence

for artifacts 1 and 2. Artifact 1 is a class constitution which outlines the rules of the classroom for

different learning opportunities. This artifact lays the ground rules like the article suggest in order to

create a safe learning space. Artifact 2 is a poster of rules during think pair share opportunities. Artifact

2 once again lays the ground rules for what is expected during pair sharing opportunities. The article

talks about the importance of creating a safe space and outlines the importance of laying ground rules

so that students know what is expected of them during different learning opportunities. Artifacts 1 and

2 are examples of the ground rules that are used in the classroom setting to allow students to know the

expectations.

The article “Classroom Management Setting Up the Classroom for Learning” talks about the

importance of being prepared before the students arrive and setting expectations with the students.

Student expectations should be established the first week of school. This helps students to know right

off the bat what will be expected of them in the classroom. When students know what to expect every

day, they walk in the classroom and are able to focus more on what is being taught instead of what to

expect day to day. The article says that “effective classroom management involves the design and

implementation of efficient routines, policies, and procedures for participating in class discussion,

forming cooperative learning groups, accomplishing seatwork, collecting assignments, turning in late

work and leaving the room” (Sterling, 2009, p. 30). It is not only important to set up these policies and

routines but to also be consistent. Teachers should spend the first day going over everything so that

students know what to expect no matter the learning opportunity they are given. There are often

different rules for different learning opportunities. When students know what to expect in these
Literature Review for TPE 2 5

different learning opportunities, they can start the learning process without having to reestablish the

expectations of them. The article also talks about the importance of keeping rules simple and posting

them in the classroom so that students can refer to them when they need to. The article finds that

consistency is important and that when the process of how things are done in classroom are modeled

and explained students are able to follow the expectations allowing them to focus on other aspects of

learning.

The article “Classroom Management: Setting Up the Classroom for learning” provides evidence

for artifacts 1 and 2. Artifacts 1 is a classroom constitution and artifact 2 is a think pair share poster.

Both artifacts showcase simple rules to follow during different learning opportunities. These artifacts

are meant to set the expectations in the classroom. The article talks about the importance of setting

routines and polices which is what the aim for artifacts 1 and 2 is.

Both articles talk about the importance of creating a safe learning environment. The articles

also discuss ways to create and maintain these learning environments. While the first article “Creating

and Maintaining a Safe Space in Experiential Learning” talks about the importance of modeling the

expectations for students so that they are able to mimic what has been modeled. This is important

because it gives students a visual and auditory reference of what to do in certain circumstances. The

second article “Classroom Management: Setting Up the Classroom for learning” talks about the

importance of setting up polices and routines so that students now what is expected of them. Both

articles make valid points on the importance of creating a safe learning environment and give great

recommendations on how to achieve a safe learning environment.

Literature Review for TPE 2 6

Reference

Kisfalvi, V., & Oliver, D. (2015). Creating and Maintaining a Safe Space in Experiential

Learning. Journal of Management Education, 39(6), 713–740.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1052562915574724

Sterling, D. (2009). Classroom Management: Setting Up the Classroom for Learning. Science

Scope, 32(9), 29–33.

http://web.b.ebscohost.com.nuls.idm.oclc.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?

vid=26&sid=31d299f3-928d-40d7-8bf3-a316b80cf12f%40pdc-v-sessmgr03