Factor That Influence Conducive Learning

Environment

Physical Environment

Mixed-Ability Classroom

Characteristics

Seating Arrangement

Student Organization

Advantages

Circle arrangement
U-shaped arrangement

Environmental Preference

colourful and informative

notice board
students moving around

Teaching & Learning Materials

and activities

Graded objectives
Devising materials
and activities

Physical Facilities

Heterogeneous
Homogeneous

Engaged in learning

Reading corner
T&L aids
Comfortable and condusive
learning

Promotes learning readiness

Diagram 1.1 Graphic organizers for the importance of physical environment in learning

Classroom managements involve creating optimum conditions for the business of

teaching and learning. It involves handling the learning environment and organizing students
so that condusive learning environment can be achieved. What is conducive classroom
environment? Conducive classroom is defined as favourable surroundings or conditions. The
physical environment is vital to learners to encourage students to be engaged and interested
in lessons.
First and foremost, teacher plays the role of a manager in the classroom. One of the
most important characteristics of physical learning environment is the seating arrangement.
Teacher must be aware of learners seating arrangement so that teaching and learning
process is effective to all learners in a class. The possible seating arrangements are the
circle-arrangement and the u-shaped arrangement. These are the benefits if one shooses
the U-shaped arrangement, it encourages discussion and interaction as well as easier to
observe students and provide one on one help if needed. Moreover, it creates a connection
with the educator and other students and help to control some students with behavioral
problems
However, teacher has to be practical in choosing the seating arrangements as it
varies to the number of students in class. Arrange the room so that you can make eye
contact with every student and reach each student with ease
(Shallaway,2015).Environmental preference is also one of the characteristics in physical
learning environment. Chitravelu, Sithamparam and Teh ( 2005) suggest that physical
environment is important as an attractive classroom will foster effective learning ( p. 289).
For instance, a colourful and informative notice board is one of the ways to make the
classroom attractive hence attracting students in the teaching and learning process. Not only
that, provide opportunities for children to move around and other special classroom areas.
learn significantly more if they move from one area to another as they acquire new
information.
As what Robert John Meehan had stated Every child has a different learning style
and pace. Each child is unique, not only capable of learning but also capable of succeeding
Most of us have the mistaken impression that children learn best when sitting still, but
research now proves that many children need extensive mobility while learning. These
children learn significantly more if they move from one area to another as they acquire new
information.
For physical facilities, teachers prepare a small reading corner in the classroom so
that the students could benefit from it by reading books or relevant material during their
leisure time. Moreover, we could instil reading habits in the students indirectly. Moreover, the

location of t&l aids such as projector, computer, television, video, charts and other
equipments must be strategic and effective that will generally effect classroom management
(Mok Soon Sang,2012).
I another context to consider is the mixed-ability classroom. Teacher should be able
to use a combination of ways in organizing students i.e. whole class, groups,pairs and
individual. Pair work can be effectively worked for controlled avtivities such as dialogue
reading and information gap activities. Nevertheless, group work is the time where teacher is
responsible to mix students with different abilities with one another in a group.
Heterogeneous grouping will allow peer teaching and collaboration while homogenous
grouping will make it easier for teachers to present activities linked to a particular ability
group.
Furthermore, one way of catering to a mixed ability class is by setting devising
materials and activities of different level of difficulties according to the obejctives. For
example as stated from Chitravelu, Sithamparam and Teh ( 2005) :
a) Students should be able to write down a passage dictated by teachers
b) Students should be able to complete the sentence in a passage dictated by
teachers
c) Students should be able to fill in the blanks in a passage dictated by teachers
Teaching a mixed ability class will work if all pupils are allowed to experience success
and to learn as individuals. Categorizing the learning objectives in a lesson is vital to monitor
students progress as well as creating a conducive learning environment. All n all, classroom
organization and management are pivotal features in producing a conducive Malaysian
primary school classroom. Creating a good classroom ambience or atmosphere is not an
impossible thing to do. Teachers should take the initiative to strive to create a conducive
environment that is beneficial for the students.

REFERENCE

Chitravelu, N., Sithamparam, S. & Teh S. C. ( 2005). ELT Methodology: Principles

and Practice.( 2nd ed.). Shah Alam, Selangor: Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd.
Mok Soon Sang. (2012). Learner and Learning Environment. Puchong : Penerbitan
Multimedia Sdn. Bhd.
Shallaway, L. (2015). Classroom Organization: The Physical Environment. Retrieved
August 14, 2016, from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/classroomorganization-physical-environment