Bicol University

College of Education
Daraga, Albay

The Learning Environment

(Field Study 1- Learning Episode 3)

To determine a school environment that is

physically, psychologically, and socially
supportive of learning.

School as a Learning Environment

According to Dewey, “The school is to be a reflection of the larger society

outside its walls, in which life can be learnt by living. But it is to be a
purified, simplified and better balanced society.”

For this episode, as a pre service teacher you need to observe the physical
environment of the school from the school grounds to the classrooms, the different
offices like the faculty room, principal’s office, library, guidance office, school clinic etc.
Classroom situations and the psychosocial environment will also be observed.

The following tasks are given to realize the intended learning outcome.

1. Visit a school. Look into the facilities, learning areas in the school and 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 the school environment that you feel is
ideal. Present your idea through ANY of the following: a. Photo essay
b. Sketch/drawing
c. Poem, song or rap

OBSERVATION REPORT

Name of the School Described: BICOL UNIVIERSITY INTEGRATED LABORATORY SCHOOL-HIGH SCHOOL
School Address:__________ 4PVF+8GP, Legazpi City, 4500 Albay____________
 SCHOOL FACILITIES CHECKLIST

Recall the different areas and facilities of the school. Write A (for available) and NA (if Not Available) to
the columns beside each respective facility. Then, give a brief adjectival description for each in the third column.
An example of a description can be well maintained , well ventilated, spacious and welcoming ,etc. You may add
other facilities that were not included in the list.
Facilities A/N Description Facilities A/NA Description
A
Office of the Principal It is Clean and neat. The Gymnasium Gymnasium and
office doesn’t have a label Auditorium are the
so we need to ask where’s same area. One room is
A A
the principal’s office. used for these two
areas. It is clean and
room is wide.
Library The library is transferred Auditorium Gymnasium and
to university library. It is Auditorium are the
well-organized. There are same area. One room is
A A
many books and tables used for these two
and chairs to be used by areas. It is clean and
the students. room is wide.
Counseling Room Small but clean and neat. Home
A You will be comfortable Economics Rm. NA
when you are inside.
Canteen/Cafeteria There are many tables and Industrial
chairs in this area. They Workshop
serve healthy foods for
A NA
everyone in the school. It’s
not that clean but it’s
organized.
Medical Clinic There is a school nurse PTA Office
who is assigned to take
care of the facility and
A NA
monitor the students.
There are medical
paraphernalia in this area.
Audio Visual Room There are few computers. Comfort Rm. It’s clean but there’s an
A It is well ventilated and (Boys) A unpleasant smell.
clean.
Reading Center Comfort rm. It’s cleaner than the
NA A
(Girls) boys CR.
Speech Laboratory Computer Same as the AVR
NA A
Room/ICT Room
Science Laboratory There are many different Prayer
apparatuses that the Room/Wellness
A students could use during Room NA
their biology, chemistry
etc. It is clean and neat.
Locker Area This area has many lockers
A and it’s organized. It has
label and it’s clean.
Outdoor Green There is a spacious field
A and it’s refreshing here to
have some fresh air.
Faculty Room There are many teacher’s
A table. It’s well-organized
and it’s clean

You may use these guide questions as you go around the classrooms. Then
accomplish the matrix to record your data by doing the following:

1. Look at the walls of the classroom. What are posted on the walls? What
heroes, religious figures, lessons, visual aids, and announcements do you
see posted?
2. Examine how the furniture is 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? Classroom Facilities
Matrix
Description
Classroom Facilities (location, number, arrangement,
condition)
1. Wall Displays There are displays in the classroom. It is
informative. It has activity and the list of
classroom officers
2. Teacher’s Table There is one table inside the classroom at the
front side.
3. Learners’ Desks/Chairs The students have an individual chair with
desk. It’s a little bit old but can still function
good as new.
4. Blackboard There’s two blackboards and it’s wide so the
students can see the lessons clearly.
5. Learning Materials/ Visual Aids Learning materials are given in a soft copy
form to the students. They are having online
class most of the time.
6. Floor Boards The classroom floorboards are under repair

7. Cabinet There’s a small cabinet at the side corner of

 the room and they are putting all the books
and activities there.
8. Television There’s a small television at the upper part of
the blackboard. It’s small but it’s functional.
9. Electric fan There are total of 5 electric fans and three of
them is functional.

1. Based on your observations, how do the observed classroom and school environments
contribute to the students’ learning and well-being?

As what I observed, the condition of every classroom and the school environment had
really affected the students learning development. The students cannot concentrate into their
classes if their school environment does not suit to their learning adaptability. Like for example,
the school is lack of budget in buying some new chairs to be used by the students in the
classroom, this might cause students to be lethargic. For this example, the students will not feel
comfortable and they will be unsatisfied with their situation and it might cause laziness to those
students who has that kind of situation.
The students are not motivated if the learning environment is not conducive to learning.

2. The condition of every

building and the
3. school environment had really
affected the students learning
4. development. The students
cannot concentrate into their
5. classes if their school
environment does not suit to
their
6. learning adaptability. For
example, there are schools
7. nowadays that are very much
limiting their cost in which the
8. number of students is not
enough to the ratio of the chairs, to
9. the extent that some students sat
on the floor. In this sample
10.case, I therefore conclude
that if the student is not
11.comfortable or satisfied of
a certain school, he/she will
get
12.lazy and not be on school, but if
the student is comfortable or
13.satisfied with the facilities
of a school he/she will be
more
14.eager to attend school
2. What kind of a.) School Campus and b.) Classroom is conducive to learning?

a) The kind of school campus that is conducive to learning is the one that have
complete facilities and equipment for teaching and free from destruction like loud
noises. Now that we are exposed to technology, the school must be updated to any
form of learning.

b) The classroom is not about facilities or equipment that are available inside the room,
but also about teachers and students especially now that most of the time students
are having online class. But one thing is for sure is that, the learning doesn’t stop
there. It is continuous. There are still lots of ways to learning like having online class.
The teacher has many teaching strategies and techniques to apply in class and it will
make the learners more motivated to learning.

3. As a future teacher, how will you be able to achieve a school campus and classroom that are
conducive to learning?

With this kind of experience and if lucky to be a teacher someday, I would want my
students to have the greatest learning experience they could ever had. This gave me the idea
of what kind of teacher I want to be and that is the importance of touching young minds and
how a teacher should be more sensitive in the needs of his/her students. Like the needs of
more facilities, structured classroom and well-organized learning.
 My Personal Illustration of an Effective
School Environment

Instructions:Insidethe box below,presentan illustration

showing your idea of an effective school environment
through any of the following:a.) A Photo Essay b) A
Sketch or Drawing c.) A poem, song, or rap. You
may insert a link if it cannot be posted here.

CLASSROOM AVR
COOKING CLASS
 Psychosocial Environment

Activity: Observing psychosocial school environment.

Accomplish the checklist below by putting a check mark (/) if the given
psychosocial support is observed and X if not observed.

Psychosocial Support Observed (/) Not observed (X)

1. The school compound is clean, safe and

secured. ✔

2. There is a school canteen where healthy /

nutritious food is provided. ✔

3. Hand wash facilities and clean water

source are available. ✔

4. The students are protected from any

forms of verbal and physical violence. ✔

5. Seminars on Students’ rights are being

conducted. ✔

6. There is a playground for students with

sport facilities. ✔

7. Teachers and parents have undergone

trainings on Child Protection and basic steps
on how to refer students in case of ✔
emergency .
Analyze/ Reflect

1. Is psychosocial school environment important? Explain.

Psychosocial support builds internal and external resources for children and their
families to cope with adversity. It helps strengthen protective factors for the child including their
ability to identify dangerous and risky situations. It can help develops student’s physical, emotional
and social development.

2. Imagine that you are now a professional teacher, how do you create a
psychosocial environment in your school. Explain.

As a teacher, I will create an environment with a positive relationship to students,

promote class discussion and peer interaction, staying connected with students, give
projects that students get excited with. As long as students are enjoying with their
learning, students are free of stress. I would like my students to have a healthy
environment that helps create a conducive environment for effective teaching and
learning.

3. What is the impact of the psychosocial school environment on student

learning outcomes? Explain.

Students bring all of life’s ups and downs with them into the classroom, and in
some cases, this can lead to poor focus and disengagement. That why as teachers we
need to create a positive environment for them to think differently in a positive way.