1. An Environment of Learning
A Positive Learning Environment
In week -2 lecture -4 professor talked about learning triangle. This became my greatest guide. In terms of
retention “teaching others” came out to be the best method its weightage being 90%. Looking at
children as well the best methods in class are cooperative learning and peer coaching. Children learn
best when they are given the opportunity to tech others. People who have children at home must have
seen their kids mimicking teachers at home; they are in fact reproducing what they have learned in class.
Whenever I am conducting sessions for teachers, now after the course I make it a point that teachers
are given time to discuss their plans and challenges with each other. Such activities are done best in
smaller group. This also enhances a teacher’s motivation level and she realizes that she is not alone in
certain challenges that she is facing. Developing teaching material together also gives opportunities to
work together enhancing each other’s repertoire.

2. What is Positive?
Positive for me is something that facilitates learning and motivates a learner to take charge of his or her
own learning. An environment based on cooperative learning and positive interdependence will always
help in achieving learning goals. A safe environment that is free of prejudices would always be conducive
for teaching and learning. A teacher who himself confirms to set of universal values and strives to
inculcate them in his is also a positive learning environment.
Constraints in Creating a Positive Learning Environment
To work for the cause of teaching for learning teachers have to take charge of each other’s learning too.
Some constraints that I have faced as a teacher trainer are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
We have to provide venues and spaces in the curriculum where some time is spent on teacher
development courses.
Venues that I have explored in my work life are observing other teachers in action and inviting them
over to my class to observe me in action. This calls for times when teachers’ could be out of their
classes which is a major issue as teacher: child ration has reached a challenging stage where more
and more blocks of teaching are mounted on staff.
Giving feedback keeping in mind the ration 4:1 (discussed in part-1 of ‘Foundations of Teaching for
Learning’) is also a challenge. As feedback at times give rise to conflicts.
Conducting sessions for teachers including, lead teachers and some part of management, who
share some academic duties as well. Leaving out management is like buying a pen without ink.
Nothing productive can be achieved.
To Create a Learning Environment:
Thinking of my position as a teacher trainer;
1. Just like we take benefit of teaching moments with children on the same pattern there are many
teachable moments in a teachers life too e.g,. Upcoming celebrations or elections in the country
are good venues to explore for a teacher to teacher learning. I use these moments to have the
teachers sit down as a focus group and plan out activities for their respective departments.
2. Reading literature related to their repertoire is another good technique to hang everyone on
learning a particular concept. Togetherness contributes to enhancement of learning. Doing online
or outside courses together also enhances teaching skills.
3. A well placed induction program for teachers who join your school also helps them to join
mainstream curriculum. The earlier they get involved the easier for them to reach the creating
stage.

3. A Critical Look into My Own Practice
In lecture three week- 3 the concept of “ring of gyges” coined by Plato was shared. It states
“whether an intelligent person would be moral if he did not have to fear being caught and
punished.” Thinking deeply this is a basic human error we do things for personal gains. A
simple example is that if a person is coming in to observe me I would behave in a different
manner than I would at other times. This is what is happening in classes too with teachers.
Children are treated differently and more appropriately if a person in under the lense.
The challenge is to help teachers internalize what is being done for their repertoire. They
have to be motivated enough to take charge of their own learning and as Professor
McBeath has said are not scared of de-privatizing their classrooms.
Another aspect that I have picked from the interview between the professors in week-4 is
to be reflective in such a way that I not only focus on what went well but also think further
and more deeply about how best to improve and my teachers repertoire.