Additional STS Projects

8.3b Creating a Stimulating Environment

Imagine walking down the hall of a school and being able to peer through the door windows enabling you to compare classroom environments of a variety of teachers. One teacher is sitting on the desk talking with the students; half hour later you pass by the classroom and the teacher is still sitting there. In an other classroom, you have to strain your head to find the teacher; the teacher is in the corner of the room pointing to the aquarium during a discussion. In a third classroom you are struck by the hand and body movements of the teacher explaining what the students are to do in lab. In the fourth class you observe the teacher walking among six groups of students who appear to be wrapped up in intense discussions.

There are a number of specific teaching skills that impinge on creating a stimulating environment in the classroom, which will have positive effects on critical and creative thinking of students. The use of movement, gestures, focusing, different interaction styles, and multiple sensory channels (Table 1) appear to impact the environment that the teacher establishes in the classroom.

Table 1. Interactive Teaching Skills

Classroom Teaching Skill

Teacher Actions

Movement

Moving into the classroom and not hovering at the front of the classroom, especially behind the demonstration desk is desirable here.

Gestures

Complimenting verbal messages with body language is an important aspect of communication. Teachers should use hand, head and body to convey meaning.

Focusing

Teachers who focus students use verbal statements (look at this chart of vertebrates), and use gestures (pointing to a fault line on a map projected on the overhead), or use a combination of both.

Interaction Styles

Stimulating environments occur where there is a variety of interaction styles among teacher and students. Whole class, small group and individual interaction styles should be utilized.

Multiple Sensory Channels

Student learning styles research suggests that creation of multiple sensory classrooms. Teachers should provide verbal, tactile, and kinesthetic experiences for students.

Classroom Teaching Skill	Teacher Actions
Movement	Moving into the classroom and not hovering at the front of the classroom, especially behind the demonstration desk is desirable here.
Gestures	Complimenting verbal messages with body language is an important aspect of communication. Teachers should use hand, head and body to convey meaning.
Focusing	Teachers who focus students use verbal statements (look at this chart of vertebrates), and use gestures (pointing to a fault line on a map projected on the overhead), or use a combination of both.
Interaction Styles	Stimulating environments occur where there is a variety of interaction styles among teacher and students. Whole class, small group and individual interaction styles should be utilized.
Multiple Sensory Channels	Student learning styles research suggests that creation of multiple sensory classrooms. Teachers should provide verbal, tactile, and kinesthetic experiences for students.