On Effective Learning Environments

I attended a French Jesuit school in Cairo, Egypt and I currently teach ELA and SAT/ACT prep. courses. I have been teaching/training for almost 15 years and have taught national and international curricula.

Oxford's Language Dictionary concisely defines learning as "the acquisition of knowledge and/or skills through study, experience, or being taught" and I believe this definition is applicable to all learners regardless of their diversity. Generally speaking, I have experienced, in one capacity or another, many of the challenges that could hinder the learning process. The causes of these challenges were sometimes management or student related and most of the times were teacher related. It is up to the teacher to construct an adequate learning environment conducive to effective learning. Further development of said environment has virtually no limits but it always has to start at the same place, the teacher's intention. In other words, it is the teacher who decides to choose a teacher-centered or a student-centered instructional approach. It is up to the teacher to choose to enrich the learning experience with engaging activities and look for and recognize different types of learners as well as their educational and developmental needs.

Factors like constructing adequate classroom design, setting the rules with students and reaching an agreement on academic and behavioral expectations, utilizing effective communication techniques, and being prepared and resilient are some of the key elements that affect students' learning process and are all in the hands of the teacher. A teacher's preparedness starts by learning different learning theorem to gain an understanding of the stages of the learning process as well as the factors that directly affect it. For example, understanding the Neuroscience behind learning will give the teacher an insight on how information and emotions are processed in a student's mind.

In conclusion, I believe that it is the teacher who has the responsibility and the power to construct, manage, and maintain an effective learning environment.