MODULE FIELD STUDY 1

Episode 1: The School as a Learning Environment

 Visit a school.
 O bserve its phy sical plants and facilities.
 D escribe the school.

A key purpose of schooling is to acclimatize children to

the present environment and prepare them for the
future. In that construct, education is evolving on the
continuum of bridging the present to the future. It is
thereby appropriate that education has developed so
many dimensions since my own school days. Looking
at today’s kids, in light of expectations from them and
numerous distractions around, it is impressive to see
them handling it all with such aplomb, and a lot of the
credit goes to schools.

In our days, the emphasis was on academics as being

of utmost importance since we were headed towards a future that secured individuals
with a solid educational foundation. This led me to acquire an engineering degree,
alongside my dream of being a sportsperson. The importance of academics is
paramount even today, and it shapes my decisions even as an administrator in allowing
young cricketers to focus on exams by creating flexibility in their sporting calendar
obligations.

Schools like mine were also forward-thinking and allowed children with interest in areas
like sports to balance these pursuits along with meeting academic commitments. This
made it possible for youngsters like me to find our paths in alternative careers that we
had a passion for.

In those days, it was not mandatory for a school to take up the duty of imparting moral
education or values to kids. However, in all the institutions I attended, there were
teachers who considered themselves custodians of the values of the next generation
and took it upon themselves to shape the kids value systems.

Todays schools have adapted to the prevailing context and impending future in several
ways. Firstly, teaching techniques are adapting to formats where learning by rote has
been replaced with learning by doing. An example of this is the increasing use of
technology in teaching and learning.

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Secondly, academics is not structured towards solidity and security alone, but is aimed
at building excellence and making the child a global citizen, in light with the future that
waits for him/her.
Thirdly, there is emphasis on extracurricular activities towards creating a well-rounded
individual. As schools envision a future where ‘unconventional careers will thrive, and
children can build their life on unique capabilities in various fields, schools are providing
them with the space and support to explore these.

Lastly, schools are stepping up and systemically delivering on the added responsibility
of imparting the right kind of morals and values to children as a part of education.

There are schools in India that are grounded firmly in these fundamentals, and having
seen it up close, I can say that one such example is the Pearson Schools which
integrates global standards, technology-based experiential learning, holistic curriculum
and a strong foundation of values and culture.

Going forward, here are a few things, in my opinion, that schools must incorporate into
the system:

1. Students must be prepared for life, not just for

careers. Given the vagaries of life, it is of utmost
importance to develop young adults who are capable
of adapting to the world as it may be years from now.

2. What ought to be taught, is not thought, but the

process of thinking. Students must be encouraged to
think for themselves and approach problems and
situations in their own ways, ensuring that their minds
are well formed and not well filled. This calls for
transition of the role of a teacher from being an
instructor to being a facilitator.

3. Acceptance of heterogeneity is essential in today’s world where we live in highly

diverse societies. Schools are one place where the child begins to see what is not
his/her own cultural, economic or social background, and hence schools must inculcate
in its students respect for those who are different from them.

4. While delivering on curriculum, teachers should drive application based, creative

and innovative thinking. They should encourage students to move beyond textual
learnings and explore the practical implications of what they read in their books.

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

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Creating a classroom community and culture remain another necessary aspect when
fostering a safe learning environment. Students need to understand what they have in
common with their fellow learners in the classroom. It is the teacher's job to create this
community so all students will get along and celebrate one another's differences. Strong
classroom communities can form in a variety of ways. Throughout daily activities the
students should be part of a collaborative learning effort, sharing their strengths and
encouraging each other. The teacher also may introduce a number of jobs or
responsibilities students need to complete in
order to maintain the physical classroom. This
shows students that they need to count on one
another, and it keeps students accountable for
their own learning environment as well.
Classroom jokes, traditions and pets are other
ways to build a strong community. When
students enjoy each other's company, they are
more likely to be accepting and feel safe in the
environment.

Another important responsibility of the teacher

is to develop a learning environment where
students feel motivated to learn within the
boundaries and expectations of a safe classroom. By modeling and encouraging a safe
environment and purposeful rules, students feel motivated to do the right thing and help
one another. It is important for teachers to put an emphasis on intrinsic motivation in the
classroom to keep students interested and invested in their own learning goals. In
addition, extrinsic motivators help students understand the expectations of the
classroom and aid in their intrinsic motivation. These kinds of motivators include praise,
positive reinforcement and rewards for exceptional behavior.

This being said, the teacher's management plan and expectations play a large role in
the classroom community. Students cannot learn effectively in an environment where
the facilitator has lost control. The teacher should make his or her expectations and
consequences for classroom behavior very clear so students understand rules,
boundaries and how to learn in a safe manner. When the teacher's management plan is
fair, consistent and organized, the students understand what to expect and can make
wise choices and take responsibility for their actions.

Each aspect of community and management play a central role in creating a positive
and safe learning space. While it is the teacher's job to facilitate and model proactive
and positive expectations, it remains the responsibility of every learner in the classroom
to care for and encourage one another. Only with everyone's cooperation and
collaboration can the learning environment flourish the way it should.

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To know more about the Learning E nvironment please click the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQJ2mW5JzYM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9ynlPs_NTM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvlR7o81x2Q

https://www2.education.uiowa.edu/html/eportfolio/tep/07e190 -
191 folder/LearningEnvironment/learning_environment.htm
Field Study 1: The Learner’s Learning Environment

A general observation of the campus and the classroom is an exciting

way to start my observation.
My mission is to do the following tasks:

1. Visit a school. Look into facilities and support learning areas in the campus,
then in the classroom.
2. Accomplish the checklist as you move around the school premises.
3. Based on your gathered data in the checklist, describe the school environment.
4. Make a reflection on the characteristics of a school environment that promotes
learning.
5. Present your idea of a good school environment through any of these:
a. Descriptive paragraph
b. Photo essay
c. Sketch or drawing
d. Poem, song or a rap

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My Learning Activities

My Tools
As you move around the campus, activity forms are provided for you to
document your observations. It is advised that you read the entire worksheet before
proceeding to the school site. A good understanding of the activities and tasks to be
accomplished in the activity sheets will yield better learning results.

SCHOOL FACILITIES CHECKLIST

Familiarize yourself with the different areas of the school. Check the column to indicate
their availability. Give a brief description of those that are available on the last column.
FACILITIES AVAILABLE NOT DESCRIPTION
AVAILABLE
Office of the A big room with a clean
Principal and neat, there are plenty of
books that are properly
arranged.

Library Books are arranged

accordingly, tables and
chairs are also present for
students conducive to
learning.

Counseling Room With proper ventilation and

well-lighted, helping the
guidance area to counsel to
students concern.

Canteen/ Cafeteria This common area has few

tables and chairs. Generally,

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My Learning Activities

the place is clean and well

ventilated. Here, they serve
snacks and lunch for
everyone in the school.
Medical Clinic The school clinic has
medical paraphernalia
needed for emergency
cases. There is also a
school nurse who is
assigned to take care of the
facility and do the
monitoring of the students’
health.
Audio Visual/ Media It is well organized there
Center are a lot of chairs that
arranged properly and air
conditioned room.

Reading Center

Speech Laboratory It is well-equipped and

well- arranged. It is also
clean and well- ventilated.

Science Laboratory Equipped with different

laboratory apparatuses.
Used by students during
their biology, chemistry and
physics classes.

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Stage / ground It is wide enough for the

school activities, well-built
and clean.

Auditorium

Home Economics
Room

Industrial
Workshop Area

PTA Office PTA office is very neat and

presentable for the parents

Comfort Room for It is dirty, slippery and not

Boys/Girls well maintained.

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My Learning Activities

An Observation Guide for the CLASSROOM VISIT

Read the following statements carefully. Then write your observation report on the
provided space.

1. Describe the community or neighborhood where the school is found.

2. Describe the school campus. What colors do you see? What is the condition of
the buildings?
3. Pass by the offices. What impression do you have of these offices?
4. Walk through the school halls, the library, and the cafeteria. Look around and
find out the other facilities that the school has.

Name of the school observed: Santolan High School

School Address: San Isidro Street, Marisol Subdivision, Santolan, Pasig City, Metro Manila

Date of visit: Aug 12 2019

The school is located in subdivision area there are of people residing in the area. There is a wide
road but there are few vehicles are passing but not much disturbing where the class are going.The
school buildings are neat and quite old. I can see 2 colors blue and white. It has a large stage and ground
for the school activities. Whenever I passed by the office I always have impression that people are so
busy in there designated task and all of the room is well maintained and air conditioned to be
comfortable to work in it. The school hallway is wide the but the floor is to slippery the student might be
in danger to have accident because of this slippery floor. Every room is well-ventilated, Personnel are
approachable too. The library is very clean there are few students are working with their lessons here it
has a plenty of books that well organized the tables and the chairs is properly arranged. The cafeteria is
very well organized in the chairs and tables there are full of nutritious foods in this area.

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An Observation Guide for the CLASSROOM VISIT

Be guided by these tasks as you do observation. Then accomplish the matrix to record
your data.
1. Look at the walls of the classroom what are posted on the walls? What heroes,
religious figures, lessons, visual aids, announcements, do you see posted?

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2. Examine how the pieces of furniture are arranged. Where is the teacher’s table
located? How are the tables and chairs/ desks arranged?
3. What learning materials/ equipment are present?
4. Observe the students. How many are occupying one room?
5. Is the room, well- lighted and well ventilated?

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CLASSROOM FACILITIES MATRIX

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 Classroom Description
Facilities
MODULE FIELD STUDY 1
(location, number,
arrangement, condition)
1. Wall Displays The wall display of the
My Learning Activities
classroom is well arranged.
There are numbers and
lessons posted on the wall
2. Teacher’s The teacher table is clean
Table and its located at the right
side of the door.
3. Learner’s Located at the center of
Desks the room it is arrange
alphabetically according to
the names of the students.
Three learners are able to
occupy each desk. The
condition is good and
comfortable to use.
4. Blackboard There are two black-board
in the classroom, it is
located in the front of the
classroom, it is in good
condition and it is arrange
in a way students can read
and understand the
information written on it.
5. Comfort Clean and very
Room comfortable to use. It is
located in front of the
door and at the right side
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of the students.
6. Bulletin No post it is not very
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My Reflections/ Insights

1. How do the school campus and the classroom in particular impact on the
learning of the students going to school? What are your conclusions?

The school campus and the classroom have a big impact on learners that goes
to school because the two element goes together that provide students their
needs in acquiring knowledge and developing their skills and capabilities as they
grow. When students are comfortable in their class-room they enjoy their lessons
and the learn fast. The school campus has impact to the students going to school
because of the colorful and attractive colors and surroundings of the school.

2. How does this relate to your knowledge of child and adolescent

development? How does this relate to your knowledge to your knowledge
of facilitating learning?
This relate to my knowledge of child and adolescent development because every
student undergoes different stages in life as they grow up. While they are
growing the school helps a lot in becoming who they are, as they say that the
school is their second home, the relations of this to my knowledge of facilitating
learning is when classroom and school has a complete material for learning and
it is conductive to learning and teaching learning process, students become more
active and interested to develop their knowledge and skills in coming to school.
Like when you are going to teach in grade one your display should be level on
their age, the choices of color and displays to be posted.

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My Reflections/ Insights

1. Would you like to teach in the school environment you just observed?
Why or why not?
Yes, I would like to teach in the school I just observed because I want to impart
my knowledge and skill to them and I want them to learn something from me.
2. What kind of school campus is conducive to learning?

School that is conducive to learning should be clean, complete in school

facilities such as library, speech laboratory, computer laboratory, and other
facilities that are also important or can help on learning of the pupils. And lastly
a school that is conducive to learning should have responsible, concerned,
knowledgeable, and child-friendly teachers. So that pupils will no be scared in
telling their problems or the will not be threaten by their presence.
3. What kind of classroom is conducive to learning?
A classroom that is conducive to learning should be clean, well-lighted, well
ventilated, have enough space for students, complete learning materials, and
has proper sanitation. Teachers should be friendly so that pupils feel that their
accepted, they are no alone and nothing is to fear.
4. In the future, how can you accomplish your answer in number 3?
As a future teacher I can accomplish my answer in number three by being
friendly and responsible teacher. I have to show my love and concern to my
pupils for them to feel that they are important and special as an individual, that
they need to come to school to learn and that studying is very important. I have
to be sure that what I learn when I was like them will be shared with proper
understanding for them to learn also
5. Write your additional learning and insights here.
Teachers should get the trust of every child. they should know their students
background about most especially the family background of the child. Teachers
should also consider the characteristics and difference of every individual when
it comes to their learning abilities.

My Personal Illustration of an Effective School Environment

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My Reflections/ Insights

My Personal illustration of an effective school environment is an environment that is

structurally built in strong, clean external and in internal, free from noise of the outside
world so that the students will feel peaceful and concentrated. On the classroom part, one
that is conducive in learning is a classroom that has many charts, posters, sayings and
inspirational quotes as motivation and additional information to children. Also those that
have models like the Globe, projects and a whole lot more of projects.

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