Learning Environment (Day 1)

Today, we embarked on the exciting journey to discover more about Learning Environment with Dr Gwendoline Quek, an Assistant Professor with NIE, as our tour guide.

Through a podcast created by Dr Quek (http://www.drquek.blogspot.com/), we learnt that the three key components in learning environment are the person, personal needs, and human behavior. An effective trainer or facilitator is responsible to provide a conducive learning environment so that learners can learn effectively in a non-threatening situation. Whichever learning strategies a trainer may apply, he is to ensure that learning is fun, exciting, engaging and enriching (LIFE3).

Experts in the field of Learning Environment have shared that factors constituting to a Learning Environment include: Organisation/Community (goals, mission, vision and quality standards), Task (duties and responsibilities), Performance (both individual and group) and People (personal needs, attributes, motivation and roles). Of all these factors, its undisputed that the most challenging task of a trainer or facilitator is to deal with the People (i.e. students). While resources can be invested to provide the best physical learning environment with state-of-the-art instructional equipment, its the process of assessing, profiling and engaging the learners that will ensure ultimate success in teaching.

There are so much to learn .......... to be effective trainer.