This learning episode provides you an opportunity to examine and reflect on

the school environment that promotes optimum learning and development.

At the end of the is episode , you must be able to ddetermine the

characteristics of a school as learning environment that is safe, secure, free
from hazards and supportive of teaching and learning.

Learning environment refers to the physical environment, context, culture,

and climate in which students learn. When we talk about physical environment, it is
a learning environment with constant practices on keeping the school safe, clean,
orderly, and free from distraction and hazards. It also maintains facilities that
provide challenging learning activities and address the physical, social, and
psychological needs of the students.

The term also includes the culture of a school or class—its presiding ethos
and characteristics, including how individuals interact with and treat one another—
as well as the ways in which teachers may organize an educational setting to
facilitate learning.

Bulletin or display boards can be powerful in communicating information

about the learning environment. They help in building and establishing the school
culture. These can be tools for vision-mission, goals and school uphold values be
known to walk in clienteles. Further, bulletin boards, aside from being the school’s
visual environment, they have four general purposes:

1. They are decorative when they offer visual stimulation and appeal to
aesthetics. They set the social and psychological atmosphere of the school.
2. When they encourage students to perform better and develop greater
confidence, they serve as motivational. One example is the display of
student’s output. Do you have other examples in mind?
 3. They are informational when they are used as the strategy of the school in
disseminating information.
4. Finally, bulletin boards are instructional when they move students to act or
to respond and participate through the displays.

The following are the criteria set to evaluate bulletin board displays: effective
communication, attractiveness, balance, unity, legibility, correctness, and durability.
How about you? Do you have something in mind?

Now, are you ready for your first learning activity? I bet you are, so let’s begin.

Your Activity 1.1

Observing the School Environment

To realize your learning objective, you will undergo the following steps:
1. Visit a school nearest to my neighborhood. Look into facilities and
support learning areas of the school—then in the classroom, if
possible.
2. Observe and use the checklist as you move around the school
premises.
3. Analyze the gathered data about the school environment.
4. Reflect on the characteristics of a school environment that promotes
learning.
5. Present your idea of a good school environment through any of the
following: descriptive paragraph, sketch or drawing, photo-essay,
poem, song or rap.

Read the entire worksheet before you proceed to the observation site. A
better understanding of the activities and tasks to be accomplished will yield better
learning results. As you move around the campus, bring with you the observation
checklist and a camera to document your observations. Now, familiarize the different
areas and facilities of the school. Check the column to indicate their availability. On
the next column, write brief descriptions of those that are available and tell how
each will contribute to the students’ learning and development.
SCHOOL FACILITIES OBSERVATION CHECKLIST
Facilities Description
Principal’s Office We held the welcoming program
at the principal's office on our
first day. It was nice and tidy, and
the workplace had air
conditioning, which made it more
comfortable to work in. The
school's principal, Ma'am Rams,
is likewise very accommodating.
Library Near the gate you can spot the
school’s library. It has a lot of
books and modules ranging from
grade 1-6. The library is also air
conditioned, making it a good
place to pass time.
Counselling Room This is also known as the
guidance office. The office is not
that big, but it is where the
school’s guidance counselor stays.
Canteen The canteen is located near the
gymnasium. It is nice and clean;
the staffs and sellers were also
approachable. They sell a variety
of snacks that are both
inexpensive and nutritious.
How will it contribute to
the student’s learning and
development? Why?
A clean and presentable
Office of the Principal can be
positive space for the
students. They will feel
welcome whenever they feel
trouble and queries.
A good place to stay inside
the campus. Students can
learn a lot from it, it offers
knowledge and
entertainment through a
variety of books.
Having a counselling room
helps those students who are
undergoing certain
difficulties in their lives, to
ask questions and
clarify them through guiding
and counselling.
Selling healthful yet cheap
snacks is beneficial to the
pupils. This guarantees that
they do not consume
unhealthy foods, moreover,
eating nutritious snacks will
keep children healthy and
energized throughout the
day.
Clinic Panabo Central SPED Centers’ A fully equipped clinic is both
clinic is nice and fully equipped
beneficial to the students and
with beds, emergency medical kit,
teachers. If any emergency
and other things that are situation may arise the
necessary in a clinic. school clinic can provide first
aid as well as basic
healthcare.
Gymnasium The gymnasium is located nearby Having a gymnasium at
the canteen. It is where the school is a good thing for the
programs as well as school students especially if there is
practice are held. a program. It is safer and
more convenient
Outdoor/Garden Near the campus second gate is Allowing pupils to plant and
the school garden. The garden is cultivate crops will help
planted with different organic them comprehend the
vegetables by the parents and farming process. Cultivating
students. the plants also allows
students to appreciate the
hardships of farmers.
Home Economics The home economics building is It is good that
Room beside the food laboratory near
the school garden (gulayan sa
paaralan)
PTA Office A small office intended for the The PTA shows the
PTA members and officers partnership between the
school and the parents. PTA’s
mission is to make the school
a better place for children to
learn.
Comfort Room/s Most classrooms have comfort Having no access to water in
rooms, which is beneficial to the the classroom is inconvenient
students. The restrooms are for the pupils and it can also
clean; however, some do not have possibly impede their
access to water and the pupils learning growth, because
still needs to gather and carry gathering water from
water from the nearest faucet outside the classroom is both
they needed to pee or poop. time consuming and difficult.
Computer The cleanliness of the computer A clean and well-equipped
Laboratory/ICT laboratory drew my attention, computer laboratory can aid
and the floor was truly shining. in the development of the
The classroom is equipped with learner's learning. They will
 computers and other class-
related equipment. The computer
laboratory is now being used as a
temporary classroom for fourth-
grade pupils while their room is
being renovated.
learn how to operate
computers and other
technological devices that
are vital in today's world. In
addition, clean environment
also increases students'
motivation to study and
attend lessons.

CAMPUS VISIT OBSERVATION GUIDE

After touring the campus, will read the statement carefully and write my observation
report on the space provided.

Guide Question Classroom Observation Report

1. Describe the community or
neighborhood that
surrounds the campus.
2. Describe the school campus
in terms of color, conditions
of buildings, order, etc.
3. When you passed by the
offices, what impressions
they give you?
4. How about the people? How
are they interacting with
each other?
Panabo Central Elementary School SPED Center is
located in the heart of Panabo, next to Rizal Elementary
School. Because the main gate of the school is adjacent to
the national highway, traffic in this area is really heavy in
the morning and afternoon, so if you don’t want to be
late you need to be early.
The first thing I noticed when I walked into Panabo
Central Elementary School SPED Center was how clean it
was. The campus is neat and well-kept. The majority of
the classrooms and the facility are brand new and in
good condition. However, several classrooms are quite
old and are under renovation.
On my first day, together with the other pre-service
teachers we visited the various offices on campus. I
noticed that the offices were clean, which gives me a
warm and welcoming feeling.
Both the teachers and staff are accommodating. The
teachers are always willing to help and answer any
questions. The students are highly enthusiastic, and yes,
it is really difficult to manage them at times, so patience
and understanding are really essential and a must have
in this field.
 Answer the following questions.

1. How do the school campus and classrooms impact the learning of the learners?
Give your conclusions.
Ans:
The school campus and classrooms are vital in the learning
process of the learners. Having a positive classroom environment and
good facilities in the school campus benefits the learners. The students
are more motivated to go to school and study if the environment is
positive and comfortable.

2. Recall you Child and Adolescent Development and Facilitating Learning classes.
How does this observation relate to your knowledge to both professional
courses?
Ans:
Being a pre-service teacher and experiencing the real-life
scenarios inside the classroom made me remember my professional
courses, especially since I’m deployed in an elementary school and I
interact with elementary learners every day. Young learners are chaotic,
they have a lot of questions because they are curious about everything,
and as a teacher you need to answer it in a way that will easily
understand the information. Taming and catching the attentions of the
learners is truly a struggle. They have a short attention span, that is why
in facilitating the class, being patient and understanding is a must.

1. Would you like to teach in the school community you just observed? Why
or why not?
Ans:
 Yes, If I would be given a chance to teach in Panabo Central
Elementary School, I will surely accept it. Although I am not a big fan
of kids, I would still grab the opportunity. Teaching is the profession
that I’ve been dreaming since I was a kid, and now that I am closer to
my dream, I’m ready for the possibilities that I might encounter in this
journey.

2. For you, what learning environment is conducive for learning?

Ans:
The learning environment is a significant aspect that influences
students' learning growth. In my opinion, an environment for
learning is conducive to learning when both the teacher and the
student have a give and take relationship, which implies there is a
free flow of ideas between the two sides. In this manner, the teacher
can have a thorough understanding of their students, allowing them
to develop the appropriate and more effective teaching method.

3. What is your ideal classroom?

Ans:
As a future educator and a practice teacher, my ideal classroom is
a room that is well-equipped with different gadgets such us T.V and
printer which are beneficial and an aid for my student’s learning growth.
It should be well ventilated to avoid discomforts. After all, a comfortable
classroom is conducive for learning and it can also increase the students
focus in learning.

4. When you become a teacher, how will you achieve your answer in Item 3?
Ans:
Honestly, I really don’t know if I achieve my classroom because we
don’t know what lays ahead us. But one thing is for sure, I will do my best
to achieve my ideal classroom and guide my students along the way.

5. Write additional learnings or insights below.

Ans:
While studying, I study to become an ideal teacher, however on the
first week of assistantship and observation I noticed how different the
environment of the classroom. Ideal teaching is only applicable in books
because in the real classroom scenario almost everything is different. You
 need to handle several students with different personalities all at once, so
being extra-extra patience is a must.

Wow! Congratulations. You are done with the first activity for Learning Episode 1.
Now, let’s proceed to Activity No.2. Let’s do this while you are still in the observation
site.

Your Activity 1.2

Observing Bulletin Board Displays

To realize your learning objective, work your way through the following
steps:

1. Examine bulletin board displays. Document samples of those found

everywhere in the campus
2. Pick one to evaluate the display.
3. Propose tips on how to make the display more effective.

As you were awed by the bulletin displays, use the observation guide form below to
document your observations.

OBSERVATION GUIDE FOR BOARD DISPLAYS

➢ Go around the school and examine board displays. Where are the display
boards found? Are they the appropriate places for the purpose of the display?

Ans:
Panabo Central Elementary School SPED Center is a large school
with diverse students. One thing I noticed when touring the school is that
there are numerous offices and areas where you can visit and stay, and in
 these places, there are also some signboards that indicate the name and
purpose of the places.

➢ What key messages do the display board conveys? What images and colors do
you see? How are they arranged to convey the message?
Ans:
The display boards basically convey the name and function of the
locations; the colors and style are also eye-catching and a little bit
childish, which is fine because it also suited for elementary viewers.

➢ Think about what got your attention. Why did it get your attention?
Ans:
What drew my attention were the designs; while the design and
color schemes are a little bit childlike, they were highly eye catching,
which is also good and ideal because elementary learners usually rate
everything primarily on appearance.

Paste the picture of the Bulletin Board here and write your observation report.
 My Observation Report

Based on the DepEd Order No. 21, it requires schools to "take out
everything" from classroom walls, including traditional instructional posters
and other visual teaching aids to keep the classrooms clean, orderly, functional
and free from distractions. Because of this, there are no decorations inside the
classroom including the bulletin board, however there are still designs paste
outside the classroom. The school has a general bulletin board that contains
upcoming events as well as the achievement of the school and students. On my
own opinion, it is really necessary to have a bulletin board. Aside from
informing the students and visitors, it also motivates the students to strive
harder when it comes to their academics.

Answer the following questions.

1. What do you think was the purpose of the board display?

Ans:

Its purpose is to announce the upcoming events and programs as

well as the achievements of the school and students.

2. Did the board design catch the attention of the target audience? Why or why
not?
Ans:

Based on my observation, it’s a yes. The school board designs catch

the attention of their target audience, which are the students. Elementary
students love colorful and playful things, adding a playful style to the
board designs helps in catching the attention of the students.

3. Was the language used clear and simple for the target audience to
understand? Why or why not?
Ans:
 The language used on the board design was English with Cebuano
translation. Having a Cebuano translation is really helpful, because its
way easier for the students to understand their mother tongue

4. Do you think the board display effective? Why or why not?

Ans:
Yes, I do believe that board display is effective. Through board
display the students will know the current happenings, they can also
track their progress on it. Moreover, it is also an excellent learning tool
for children who are visual learners because through it they can visualize
exactly what is being said to them.

5. What suggestion can you make?

Ans:
The designs of the bord display should be in line with the message
and in accordance with the age group of the target audience. It should be
minimal and not over designed.

1. Name at least five skills that a teacher should have to come up with effective
board displays. Elaborate why those skills are needed.

1. Artistic and Creativity – the teacher needs to be artistic. Being artistic in

making the board display is necessary. An artistic board display attracts the
attention of the students easily.
2. Innovative – The teacher needs to be innovative in presenting the board
display, he/she should use the available resources to make and enhance the
output
3. Communication – The teacher must know how to communicate with the
audience. In making board display, the words combined with visual content can
often communicate more than words alone.
4. Organized – Being well organized in making a board display will help the
students to easily understand the information given.
5. Minimal - Being minimal is necessary. Avoid adding too much designs because
it may overshadow, confused the students, and sometimes misunderstand the
 information.

2. Do you have those skills mentioned in question 1? Recall the time when you did
the bulletin board. How did you do it? Was the display attracting viewers?

Ans:
Yes, I do believe that I have those skills mentioned in question 1. In making a
bulletin board, I always bear in mind my audience.

Show here your personal illustration of an Effective School Environment

through any of the following: descriptive paragraph, photo-essay, sketch or drawing,
a poem, a song, or rap.

From Monday to Friday

In school I longed to stay
A place where I learn a lot of things
Read and write, dance and sing

Fat or thin, tall or small

Together we play and fall
Now we bake, next we hide and seek

What a good place it is to stay

My second home, I say
Complete with different facilities, I learn happily

To end your Learning Episode 1, go to your LMS and answer the Learning Episode 1
Quiz