COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, THEOLOGY, HUMANITIES AND

EDUCATION

INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES

STUDENT DETAILS: Nelly Okongo 170753

COURSE TITLE: NECI 501 Practicum In Teaching At Tertiary Level1
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. RICHARD
Assignment 1
Suppose you are employed as a lecturer at one of the colleges or universities in your country.
Develop a detailed presentation that you would share with your colleagues on key strategies
for designing and planning effective teaching and learning environments

Due Date; 28 September 2023

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Nowadays, the difficulties that teachers and institutions of learning face are only getting
worse. The challenge in many nations is to change traditional schooling models, which have
been successful at separating students who are more academically talented from those who
are less so, into personalized learning systems that identify and develop the talents of all
students. Modern knowledge-based economies, where the demand for high-level skills will
continue to grow significantly, are knowledge-based economies where the demand for high-
level skills will increase significantly. To achieve this, "knowledge-rich" and evidence-based
education systems must be developed, in which school administrators and teachers act as a
professional community with the power to act, the knowledge needed to act wisely, and the
availability of efficient support systems to help them implement change. Therefore, this paper
is a presentation prepared to share with my colleagues at UMJW (University Methodist John
Wesley) in DRC. However, the presentation is based on the following key strategies for
designing and planning effective teaching and learning environments: Visualization,
Teamwork, Inquiry-based teaching and Technology in the classroom. Also, the physical,
social, and emotional surrounds of students which make up their learning environment. But
before then, I would start with short definitions of the key words in my presentation, strategy,
effective teaching, effective learning and environment. Then the presentation will end with a
Recommendation and Conclusion.

As to start with, strategy can be defined in different ways but generally it is a designed plan
of action to accomplish a long-term or an overall aim to achieve a goal. It can be also
defined as a creation of a valuable and unique position which involves different set of
activities. Effective teaching is the understanding, strategies, procedures and actions which
result in good outcomes for students. Effective teachers use their knowledge to enhance
learning and have a good effect on their students. These positive results are frequently ones
that are simple to measure, usually through summative evaluation. Effective learning is
characterized by teaching strategies that encourage students to take an active role in their own
education and growth. An environment is defined as the setting or surroundings in which a
human, animal, or plant resides or functions. (Hawthorne, 2022)

The tactics and approaches a teacher uses to assist student learning are referred to as teaching
strategies. A teacher chooses the instructional approach best suited to the students' current
level of knowledge, the idea being studied, and their stage in the learning process. A student
uses a learning strategy when they want to organize and apply a certain set of skills to acquire
course material or carry out other duties in a classroom or outside of it more quickly and

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effectively. In order to convey academic concepts and cater to each student's unique needs, a
great teacher uses the most cutting-edge and imaginative teaching techniques. But because of
the demands of an ever-expanding curriculum, teachers frequently employ their preferred
style of instruction. (Developing Learning Environments, 2015)While every one of us has a
favourite technique of instruction, it's crucial to consider evidence-based pedagogical
concepts that could broaden our toolkit in the classroom. It might be challenging to determine
which teaching method will be most effective with a specific Student. In order to improve our
teaching approaches in UMJJW, teachers might apply the following list of teaching
strategies:

More than just desks, tables, chalkboards, and laptops can be found in our classroom. It is
made up of individuals who use tools and resources to help them find, arrange, synthesize,
and exchange knowledge. It also includes thinkers, communicators, collaborators, and
producers. An authentic teaching/learning environment is one where we, our students, our
materials, our activities, and our classroom are all active participants. Our main responsibility
is to set up the information and resources in the classroom in a way that promotes learning.
Learning is the process of acquiring new information, abilities, perspectives, and values.

Visualization: Making sense of or summarizing the information taught in class can be done
by using visualization. Students are better able to remember both their prior knowledge and
the new material when it is presented to them visually. For students who are less proficient,
using visualization can help them acquire material in a way that is easier to understand, more
organized, and methodical. Because visual aids like flow charts, graphic organizers, idea
maps, and Venn diagrams help student retain material better through visual memory, a good
teacher would employ these. (Hawthorne, 2022)

Teamwork: One effective teaching method is to divide the class into groups to perform a
job. It is advised to promote collaboration amongst students with different skill levels. By
doing this, people who are more knowledgeable about the issue can impart that information
to their peers and aid in their understanding. According to research on classroom teaching,
teachers can encourage cooperative learning by breaking the class into small groups and
assigning the students distinct tasks. For instance, in a science class, one student might
conduct an experiment, another might read the textbook, and still another might record their
thoughts about what they learned. Previous research has shown that group projects enhance
collaboration and support learning. This may not be a choice for instructional methods for

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some educators. (Strictural learning , 2022) Working in groups involves some level of
freedom and good management.

Inquiry-based teaching: asking lots of questions is a good teaching method that motivates
students to think more practically and develops their independence as learners. Students are
inspired to ask questions and collaborate to find solutions to problems through inquiry-based
learning. Students tend to become more engaged in the learning process, including formative
evaluations, when using this technique. Inquiry-based learning gives students the chance to
collaborate with one another as a class and also enables them to review prior knowledge and
better remember new knowledge. (Hawthorne, 2022)

Technology in the Classroom: By effectively utilizing technological tools as active learning

tactics in educational institutions, a lively learning community may be developed. It may also
assist teachers in creating and improving their lesson plans. A helpful technique for preparing
pupils to develop 21st-century skills is the use of technology in the classroom. The use of
PowerPoint presentations, videos, virtual classrooms, robots, and augmented reality (AR) in
the classroom not only makes it more engaging, but it may also result in a more inclusive and
productive learning environment that fosters student collaboration and increases curiosity. It
also enables teachers to gather data on student performance. Schools had to review their
traditional teaching strategies as online learning became mandatory in classrooms all across
the world. (Strictural learning , 2022)

Through the promotion of dialogic teaching, oracy enhancement, and collaborative learning,
the incorporation of technology in today's classrooms has the ability to raise education. The
myth of learning styles has been disproved in the digital age, opening the door for a more all-
encompassing strategy that takes into account the wide range of cognitive thinking abilities
and different intelligences that students possess. Technology enables educators to embrace
neurodiversity and choreograph a coherent learning experience for all much like an orchestra
seamlessly combines the distinctive tones of numerous instruments. Teachers must, however,
be aware of the difficulties that technology might bring, such as social loafing, where certain
students may stop participating in group projects. (Developing Learning Environments, 2015)
Educators can address this problem by utilizing digital tools that promote accountability and
active involvement in group work. The effectiveness of dialogic instruction and collaborative
learning in boosting students' cognitive abilities and general academic performance is
highlighted by studies by Mercer (2008) and Dillenbourg (1999).

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Teachers can develop an inclusive and dynamic learning environment that meets the varied
needs of their students by utilizing the capabilities of digital tools. This culture of
collaboration, communication, and critical thinking will help to prepare students for the
challenges of the twenty-first century. The physical, social, and emotional surrounds of a
student make up their learning environment, which also includes the neighbourhood and
culture in which they are raised. All students can thrive in a supportive learning environment.
However, a student capacity for learning is greatly compromised in the absence of safe and
secure environments. (Munna, 2021) There is a lot more to a learning environment than what
the eye can see. Physical, social, and emotional settings make up its three key components.
These components need to work together in order for any effective teaching technique to be
effective. We need to consider the roots of our teaching and learning as being the learning
environment. When we take them away, the potential of our students to succeed starts to fall
apart. Therefore, with the details of the three learning environment student will be 75%
attentive to the teaching.

Physical Environment: educational facilities must be designed so that all students can feel
happy, at ease, and attentive. This entails taking into account factors such as light, noise,
temperature, air quality, reflections, and wall colours. For instance, good electrical
illumination and decent natural lighting should be provided in classrooms wherever possible.
In a perfect world, there would be no glare from direct sunlight, functional shades, and a clear
projection of the whiteboard. Students can learn more effectively and with greater
engagement in an organized, clutter-free environment. (Developing Learning Environments,
2015)

Social Environment: Colleges or Universities must also foster a socially supportive

environment for learning. To ensure that there are solutions in place that seek to reduce
inappropriate behaviour, each university must have an effective, well-recognized, and widely
accepted whole-college strategy to behaviour. If Colleges want to foster a learning
environment, they must address any behaviour that undermines the academic and social
achievement of the University community or lowers the self-esteem of staff or students.
(Strictural learning , 2022)

Emotional environment: We need to note that students need to be emotionally ready to

learn. As we want students to demonstrate an intrinsic, autonomous passion of learning,
where they learn to enjoy and respect each and every step they take in their learning path, in

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addition to realizing that they need to learn in order to meet a given academic norm. Students
who are motivated are more likely to develop into resilient, autonomous learners who can
handle any difficulties they may encounter in the classroom. (Munna, 2021) Universities can
implement whole-university initiatives that both internally and externally motivate students.
Both of these motivators can complement one another, and we all need to tailor our strategy
to our students' needs.

Recommendation: This presentation is recommended to all teachers at UMJW, let us always

take note that learning environment is continually under construction. It will need to be
modified on a regular basis to meet the demands of your students. It's crucial to take the time
to consider the teaching and learning environment that your students encounter, regardless of
where you are in your teaching career. You can use this reflection to help you decide which
components of the teaching and learning environment need to be improved or changed.

Conclusion: This presentation can now be concluded that students learning environment,
including its physical, social, and emotional components, can have a significant impact on
both their achievement and wellbeing. Schools must work hard to establish environments that
are conducive to learning as a result. By doing this, they contribute to the success of each and
every one of our students. As we already know that authentic teaching/learning environment
is one where we, our students, our materials, our activities, and our classroom are all active
participants of our main responsibility of setting up the information and resources in the
classroom in a way that promotes learning. Therefore, putting into consideration the above
displayed teaching and learning strategies: Visualization, Teamwork, Inquiry-based teaching,
technology in the classroom. And the physical, social, and emotional environment is of great
importance.

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Works cited
Developing Learning Environments. (2015). Developing Learning Environments: Planning Effective
Lessons, 25-26.

Hawthorne, H. (2022, November 18). What is effective teaching . Consulté le September 20, 20223,
sur High Speed Training : https://www.highspeedtraining.co

Munna, A. S. (2021). Teaching and learning process to enhance teaching effectiveness: a literature
review. Depenrtement of education , 3-4.

Strictural learning . (2022, January 4). Teaching And Learning Strategies: A Classroom Guide.
Consulté le September 25, 2023, sur Class room practice: https://www.structural-
learning.com/post/teaching-and-learning-strategies-a-classroom-guide