FIELD STUDY 1 LEARNING

EPISODE
The School Environment

1
SPARK Your Interest

This Episode 1 provides an opportunity for students to examine and reflect on a school environment that promotes
learning and development.

TARGET Your Intended Learning Outcome

• At the end of this Episode, I must be able to determine the characteristics of a school environment that is
safe, secure, and is supportive of learning (PPST 2.1.1)

REVISIT the Learning Essentials

1. A physical environment conducive for learning is one that has consistent practices that:

• keep the school safe, clean, orderly and free from distraction;
• maintain facilities that provide challenging activities; and
• address the physical, social and psychological needs of the students.
2. Display boards can be powerful in communicating information about the learning environment. They help in
building and establishing the school culture. These boards become one way for everyone to learn about the vision-
mission, goals, and values that the school upholds.
3. As a basic part of the school’s visual environment, display boards have four general purposes:

• Decorative – They offer visual stimulation and appeal to aesthetics. They set the social and psychological
atmosphere of the school.
• Motivational – They encourage students to perform better and have greater confidence. An example
would be the display of students’ output that show that each output is recognized and valued. The bulletin
boards help celebrate the learners’ growth and progress.
• Informational – They are used as a strategy to readily disseminate information.
• Instructional – They move students to respond and participate through interactive displays. They get
students to think about and communicate their learning
4. The set of criteria for evaluating bulletin board displays includes effective communication, attractiveness,
balance, unity, interactivity, legibility, correctness, and durability.

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 1

 OBSERVE, ANALYZE, REFLECT
Activity 1.1 Exploring the School Campus
Resource Teacher: _______________________ Teacher's Signature ____________ School: ________________
Grader/Year Level: ______________________ Subject Area: _________________ Date: __________________
To realize the Intended Learning Outcome, work my way through these steps:
1. Visit a school. Look into facilities and support leaning areas in the campus, then in the classroom.
2. Observe and use the checklist as you move around the school premises.
3. Analyze your gathered data about the school environment.
4. Reflect on the characteristics of a school environment that promotes learning.
5. Present your idea of a good school environment through any of these:
a.) Descriptive Paragraph b.) Photo essay
c.) Sketch or drawing d.) Poem, song or rap

OBSERVE
As you move around the campus, observations forms are provided for you to document your
observations. It is advised that you read the entire worksheet before proceeding to school site. A good
understanding of the activities and tasks to be accomplished in the activity sheets will yield better
learning results.

SCHOOL FACILITIES OBSERVATION CHECKLIST

Familiarize yourself with the different areas and facilities of the school. Check the column to
indicate their availability. Give a brief description of those that are available, and say how each
will contribute to the students' learning and development.

Will it contribute to
Facilities / Description the students’ learning
and development.
Why?

Office of the Principal

Library

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 2

 Will it contribute to
Facilities / Description the students’ learning
and development.
Why?

Counseling Room

Canteen / Cafeteria

Medical Clinic

Audio Visual / Leaning

Resource Center

Science Laboratory

Gymnasium

Auditorium

Outdoor/Garden

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 3

 Will it contribute to
Facilities / Description the students’ learning
and development.
Why?

Home Economics Room

Industrial Workshop Area

PTA Office

Comfort Room for Boys

Comfort Room for Girls

Others (Please specify)

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 4

 An Observation Guide for the CLASSROOM VISIT

Read the following statements carefully. Then write your observation report on the space provided.

Guide Question Classroom Observation Report

1. Describe the community or
neighborhood where the school
is found.

2. Describe the school campus.

What colors do you see? What
is the condition of the
buildings?

3. Pass by the offices. What

impression do you have of
these offices?

4. Walk through the school

halls, the library, the cafeteria.
Look around and find out the
other facilities that the school
has.

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 5

Resource Teacher: _______________________ Teacher's Signature ____________ School: ________________
Grader/Year Level: ______________________ Subject Area: _________________ Date: __________________

"I entered
1. Look at the walls of the classroom. What are the
posted on the classroom
walls? What heroes, religious figures, lessons, with the
visual aids, conviction
announcements, do you see posted? that it was
crucial for
2. Examine howthe pieces of furniture are me and every
arranged. Where is other
the teacher's table located? How are the tables student to
and chairs/ be an active
desks arranged? participant,
not a
3. What learning materials/equipment are passive
present? consumer.....
Learning is
4. Observe the students. How many are a place
occupying one room? where
paradise can
5. Is the room well-lit and well-ventilated? be created."

-Bell Hooks,
Teaching to
Transgress,
NY:Routledge,
1994.

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 6

 An Observation Guide for the CLASSROOM VISIT

Be guided by these tasks as you do your observation. Then accomplish the matrix to record your data.

CLASSROOM FACILITIES MATRIX

Classroom Facilities Description

(location, number, arrangement, condition)

1. Wall displays

2. Teacher’s table

3. Learner’s desks

4. Blackboard

5. Learning materials / Visual aids

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 7

Write your observation report here.
ANALYSIS
Name of the School Observed ___________________________________________ The breaking
down of
Location of the School _________________________________________________ informational
materials into their
Date to Visit _________________________________________________________ component parts,
examining (and
trying to understand
the organizational
structure of) such
information to
develop divergent
ANALYZE conclusions by
identifying motives
How do the school campus and the classroom in particular impact the leaning of or causes, making
the students going to school? What are your conclusions? inferences, and/
or finding evidence
_______________________________________________________________________ to support
generalizations. It
_______________________________________________________________________ involves:
• a seeing patterns
_______________________________________________________________________ • organization of
parts
How does this relate to your knowledge of child and adolescent development / How does • recognition of
this relate to your knowledge of facilitating learning? hidden meanings
• identification of
_______________________________________________________________________ components

_______________________________________________________________________ • Question Cues:

analyze,
_______________________________________________________________________ separate, order,
explain, connect,
classify, arrange,
REFLECT
divide, compare,
select, explain,
1. Would you like to teach in the school environment you just observed? Why?
Why not? infer
(Boom’s
_______________________________________________________________________ Taxonomy)

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 8

2. What kind of school campus is conducive to learning?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. What kind of classroom is conducive to leaning?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

4. In the future, how can you accomplish your answer in number 3? ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

5. Write your additional learnings and insights here. ______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

OBSERVE, ANALYZE, REFLECT

Activity 1.1 Exploring the School Campus
Resource Teacher: _______________________ Teacher's Signature ____________ School: ________________
Grader/Year Level: ______________________ Subject Area: _________________ Date: __________________
The display board, or what we more commonly refer to as bulletin board, is one of tile most
readily available and versatile learning resources.

To achieve the Intended Learning Outcomes, work your way through these steps: 1. Examine for
bulletin board displays. Include samples of those found at the entrance, lobby, hallways and classrooms 2. Pick
one and evaluate the display. 3 Propose enhancements to make the display more effective.

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 9

OBSERVE

As you look around and examine board displays, use the observation guide and forms provided for you to document your
observations.

An Observation Guide for BOARD DISPLAYS

Read the following carefully before you observe.

`,

1. Go around the school and examine the board displays. How many board displays do you see?

2. Where are the display boards found? Are they in places where target viewers can see them?

3. What are the displays about? What key messages do they convey? What images and
colors do you see? How are the pieces of information and images arranged?/

4. What materials were used in making the displays? Are borders used?

5. Do you notice some errors? (misspelled words, grammar inconsistencies and the like)

6. Are the messages clear and easily understood?

7. Think about what got your attention. Why did it get your attention?

8. Take a photos of the display boards (if allowed).

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 10

Based on the questions on the observation guide, write your observation report:

Observation REPORT
(You may paste pictures of the Board displays here.)

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 11

 From among the board displays that you saw, pick the one that you got most interested in.
Evaluate it using the evaluation form below.

BOARD DISPLAYS EVALUATION FORM

Topic of the Board Display ___________________________

Location of the Board Display in School _________________

Check the column that indicates your rating. Write comments to back up your ratings.

4-Outstanding 3-Very satisfactory 2-Satisfactory 1-Needs Improvement

Criteria NI S VS O Comments
1 2 3 4
Effective
Communication
It conveys the message
quickly and clearly.
Attractiveness
Colors and arrangement
catch and hold interest
Balance
Objects are arranged, so
stability is perceived.
Unity
Repeated shapes or colors
or use of borders hold
display together.
Interactivity
The style and approach
entice learners to be
involved and engaged.
Legibility
Letters and illustrations
can be seen from a good
distance
Correctness
It is free from grammar
errors, misspelled words,
ambiguity
Durability
It is well-constructed,
items are securely
attached.

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 12

 Bulletin Board Evaluated by:
Location:
Brief Description of the Bulletin Board:
EVALUATION

Strengths Weakness
Description of the Bulletin Board
layout

Evaluation of educational content

and other aspects

Recommendations or Suggestions for improvement

Signature or Evaluator over Printed Name:

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 13

Based on your suggestions, make your board display lay-out. You may present your output through any of these:
• A hand-made drawing or layout
• An electronic (computer) drawing / illustration or layout
• A collage
My Board Display Lay-out

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 14

ANALYZE
What do you think was the purpose of the board display?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Did the board display design reflect the likes/interests of its target audience? Why? Why not?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Was the language used clear and simple for the target audience to understand? Why? Why not?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Was the board display effective? Why? Why not?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

What suggestions can you make?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 15

 Based on your suggestions, propose an enhanced version of the display board. Use the form below.

My Proposed Board Display

Theme:

Board Title:

Rationale:
(Purpose)

Objectives:

Best features of my proposed bulletin enhancement:

Content Resources (Name each needed resource and give each a brief description):

Materials for aesthetic enhancement:

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 16

REFLECT
1. Name at least five skills that a teacher should have to be able to come up with effective board displays.
Elaborate on why each skill is needed.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

2. Which of the skills you named in #1 do you already have? Recall your past experiences in making board
displays. How do you practice these skills?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. Which skills do you still need to develop? What concrete steps will you take on how you can improve on or
acquire these skills.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Learning Episode 1: The School Environment Field Study 1 17