Learning Episode No.
1 – The School Environment
School Facilities Observation Checklist
Familiarize yourself with the different areas and facilities of the school. Check the
columns to indicate their availability. Provide a short description of these facilities and say how
each will contribute to the student’s learning and development.
Facilities / Description
A central and private place
within the campus where the
school’s administrative
leader also known as
Office of the Principal ✓ principal conducts her
various tasks in handling her
administrative
responsibilities.
A quiet and organized space
filled with shelves of books
and other informational
Library ✓ resources, providing a
conducive environment for
reading, research, and
learning.
Counseling Rooms ✓ A private and comfortable
space within the campus that
serves as the counseling
center where individuals can
engage in confidential
How will this facility be
beneficial to learning and
development?
The office of the principal
serves as a hub for
administrative decisions, staff
coordination, and student
support to take place. By
allowing the school principal
to manage school resources
effectively, address
disciplinary matters, and
collaborate with teachers
and parents, paves the way
for creating a conducive
learning environment
fostering students’ holistic
development as well.
The school library is a
valuable resource for
learning and development,
offering access to a wide
range of books and
educational materials that
promote literacy, research
skills, and a love for reading,
which are essential
components of student
growth and academic
success.
One of the main functions of
a counseling room is to
provide a confidential and
supportive environment for
students to address personal

discussions.
A school facility where
everyone can purchase and
Canteen ✓ consume meals, snacks, and
beverages.
The facility in the school
staffed by a medical
professional to provide the
basic healthcare services and
Medical Clinic ✓ address minor illnesses,
injuries, and health-related
concerns within the school
community.
an educational space within
the institution equipped with
Audio Visual/ audiovisual materials,
Learning Resource ✓ multimedia resources, and
Center technology to support
various teaching and learning
activities.
A large indoor facility within teamwork, and stress relief,
the school designed for
Gymnasium ✓ physical exercise, sports, and
other recreational activities.
Science Laboratory ✓ A specialized room equipped
with scientific instruments,
tools, and materials for
and emotional concerns,
fostering mental and
emotional well-being, which
is essential for effective
learning and holistic
development.
The school canteen promotes
social interaction, healthy
eating habits, and availability
of nutritious meals, which are
essential for students'
physical and cognitive
development ultimately
supporting their learning
experiences.
The medical clinic in the
school offers timely
healthcare support,
addressing students’ physical
well-being and ensuring they
are healthy and ready to
engage in learning, thus
facilitating their overall
development.
The school AVR enhances
learning and development by
providing access to
multimedia resources and
technology, thereby
enriching educational
experiences and catering to
diverse learning styles.
The school gymnasium
supports physical fitness,
contributing to overall health
and well-being, which is
fundamental to students'
holistic learning and
development.
The science laboratory is
essential for hands- on
experimentation and
 practical application of
scientific concepts, fostering
conducting experiments,
critical thinking, problem-
research, and other particle
solving skills, and a deeper
demonstration in various
understanding in sciences,
scientific disciplines.
which are integral to student
learning and development.
The school auditorium
provides a platform for
A large multipurpose facility
students to showcase their
within a school used for
talents, develop public
hosting various events such
Auditorium ✓ as assemblies, seminars,
speaking skills, and engage in
cultural and educational
performances, lectures, and
performances, thereby
presentations.
nurturing self-confidence and
well-rounded development.
The school outdoor provides
An open space in the school
learners a natural and
campus landscaped with
interactive learning
plants and greenery where
Outdoor/Garden ✓ students can engage with
environment that fosters a
connection to nature,
nature and relax in a natural
allowing ecological
environment.
awareness to foster.
Home Economics
Room
Industrial Workshop
Area
PTA Office
Campus comfort rooms
promote personal hygiene
An essential facility providing
and ensure students’ physical
both learners and staff with
comfort, leading to a more
Comfort Rooms ✓ access to sanitary and private
conducive and focused
space for personal hygiene
learning environment that
and toileting needs.
supports overall
development.
Others (Please
sepecify)
 An Observation Guide for Classroom Visit

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

Guide Questions:

1. Describe the community or neighborhood where the school is located?

The community where the school is located near the highway but safe enough for
students as the gate is not directly placed within the highway. Along the way to school
you will be greeted with establishments as well like a salon and a bank. There are not
many houses near the entrance gate however on the other gate there is where most
houses are located. But despite the houses near the school you won't be able to see it
unless you really go outside the other gate because the walls are tall.

2. Describe the school campus. What colors do you see? What is the condition of the
building?
The school campus is quite commendable to say the least. It has amazing greenery, the
trees around it makes the temperature in the campus less hotter compared to outside.
The buildings are newly painted making it pleasant to look in the eyes.

3. Pass by the offices. What impression do you have of these offices?

The offices are located near each other making it easier for everyone to find. The offices
are nice, it is well functioning and well ventilated making it comfortable for anyone.

4. Walk through the school halls, the library, the cafeteria. Look around other facilities that
the school has.
The school halls are neat and clean as it is maintained this way by the people assigned to
it. The library is quiet and cozy just enough to make reading and learning comfortable.
The cafeteria sells affordable food making it accessible to everyone. The people in the
cafeteria are also wearing the right things to keep the food they’re preparing clean and
sanitized. The cafeteria is also clean despite many learners having their recess and lunch
there.

5. Check the walls of the classroom. What are posted on the walls?
 There are not many displays on the wall except some labels and some bulletin boards.
Some of these labels are the trash bin labels and the bulletin boards containing
classroom officers, cleaners, birthdays, and the likes.

6. Examine how pieces of furniture are arranged. Where is the teacher’s table and
located? How are the tables and desks arranged?
The learners' chairs are arranged differently per classroom. While the teachers' tables
are commonly placed in front and at the back of the classroom.

7. What learning materials/equipment are present?

Each classroom has a flat screen tv that the class uses for presentations. This is quite
modernized compared to the projectors that we used to have in the university.

8. Observe the students. How many students are there in a room?

The amount of students per classroom varies from one to the other. However, each
class has not less than 29 students. When it comes to their behavior we cannot be
certain about that since each learner has their unique characteristics.

9. Is the room well-lit and ventilated?

The classrooms are well-lit because the campus is quite bright. However, when we talk
about ventilation the classrooms only have electric fans and they don't have an air
conditioner which is undeniably necessary these days due to the heightened global
warming crisis.

Classroom Facilities Matrix

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

Description
Classroom Facilities
(location, number, arrangement, condition)
1. Wall Displays The wall display’s location varies from one classroom to the
other but as I have observed most commonly it is pinned at
the left wing of the classroom, the side where doors are
located. There is not much of it, unlike during our time where
wall displays are quite a lot. In this day and age wall displays
are not much encouraged but in the classrooms I have
observed each of them has the VMG poster of UIC as well as
trash trash bin labels and a board where they hang the
different passes used by learners to go out. Its arrangement on
the other hand is also well organized like how the trash bin
labels are aligned to the trash bin to where that specific trash
belongs. Lastly, the condition of these wall displays look new
 and fresh in the eyes.
2. Teacher’s The teacher’s table in each classroom is located both in the
Table front and at the back of the classroom. The tables in front are
commonly smaller compared to the one’s located at the back
of the learners. Most teachers' tables have paints ripping off
which suggest that these tables need some refurnishing.
3. Learner’s In this school the learners still have the traditional armchair.
Desk Learner’s desks are located in the middle of the classroom
where they should be. The number of these desks depends on
the number of students in each class however, in each
classroom I have observed that there will always be at least 2-
3 chairs that are intended to be an extra chair. In terms of
arrangement it still varies from one class to another. Some
classes arrange their seats by 2’s in each line and could have 4
rows and some would just divide the class in half and have row
1 and row 2. On the other hand, when we look at the condition
of their desks to me, it's quite old and I in my opinion it should
be a priority already to change these desks into a more
modern one.
4. Blackboard The blackboard is located in front of the classroom where
learners can see it clearly in their perspective. Each classroom
only has one blackboard but it's wide enough to cater to the
needs of the learners during class discussions. In terms of its
condition I would say that it is also quite out of date, modern
day classrooms now use white boards which is much more
efficient both for teachers and learners not having to
encounter chalk dust on a daily basis.
5. Learning The learning materials are located everywhere in the
Materials/ classrooms. One of the notable learning materials I have
Visual Aids observed are the passess used by students whenever they go
out, like the cr pass, fountain pass, avr pass, and the likes. In
addition, the condition of these learning materials are quite
new and pleasant to look at.

Analyze:
1. How do the school campus and the classroom in particular impact the
learning of the students going to school? What are your conclusions?
The school campus itself and the classrooms in particular plays a vital role
in shaping the learning experiences as well as the outcomes of learners. Both
the school campus and the classrooms profoundly impact the motivation of
learners in going to school. The physical environment to which we call is vital
in a way that the lay-out and design of these classrooms with proper lighting,
 comfortable seating, classroom size, and appropriate ventilation can create a
more conducive learning environment for them allowing them to become
more participative in class and learn more effectively. Thus, this is how we
can justify that the school campus and the classrooms have a substantial
impact on a student's learning experience.

2. How does this relate to your knowledge of child and adolescent

development/knowledge of facilitating learning?
With the abovementioned, my knowledge of child and adolescent
development has played a factor on how I was able to conceptualize and
conclude my answer on the previous question. Being able to understand and
have the knowledge on child and adolescent development allows me to
recognize how the physical environment can align the developmental needs
and characteristics of students at different stages of their growth. For
example, the group seating arrangements and collaborative spaces
encourage social interaction, helping learners build important social skills like
communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution. In addition, it has been
long known that children's development has a variation of needs like
interaction, exploration, and physical activity. With that being said, it is only
necessary to provide these learners the appropriate space to accommodate
their developmental needs. In conclusion, our knowledge on child and
adolescent development allows us future educators and educators to see the
importance of creating a learning space that is sensitive to the unique
developmental stages and needs of our learners.
Reflect:

1. Would you teach in the school environment you just observed? Why?
Within the first week of observation in UIC Bajada I could say that with the school
environment that they have I would love to work there. Although there were some
things that needed to be changed, overall the environment is quite conducive both for
teaching and learning.
2. What kind of campus is conducive to learning?
A campus that is conducive for learning is a campus that caters to the unique needs of
its learners. A campus conducive for learning provides its learners the right facilities that
a learning environment should have. It provides the space of interaction, exploration,
and other physical activity to take place sustaining the needs of learners to be able to
grow.
3. What kind of classroom is conducive to learning?
A classroom conducive for learning is a classroom that also caters to the unique needs
of its learners. In addition, it also is a safe space for learners to be able to develop not
only their knowledge but also allow for the development of communication,
cooperation, collaboration, and conflict resolution to take place.
4. In the future, how can you accomplish your answer in number 3?
 In the future, I will provide a conducive classroom environment by creating a
welcoming and inclusive classroom atmosphere that caters to the unique needs of
learners. I will make them feel safe and valued. I would also prioritize that the physical
environment is organized, visually engaging, and flexible to accommodate their various
learning styles and activities, allowing for an affecting teaching and learning to foster.
5. What other additional learnings and insight have you gained?
Personally, the experience was such an eye opener to me. Upon choosing the path of
teaching I was firm with my decision that I will only teach at the secondary level.
However, with the experience I had it made me realize how fun it is to teach young kids.
The observation allowed me to see the beauty of interacting with these young learners.
But above all, it made me love my profession ever more.

Observing Bulletin Boards and Displays

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

1. Go around the school and examine the board displays. How many board displays do you
see?
Each classroom has a notable bulletin board located at the back of the class, some also
has bulletin boards containing the birthdays, cleaners, class officers. Some classes also
have a board where learners hand the passess they use to go out like the cr pass and
fountain pass.
2. Where are the display boards found? Are they in places where target viewers can see
them?
The big display boards are located at the back of the classroom while the small ones are
placed at the sides of the class.
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?
Each class has unique bulleting boards varying to the likings of the adviser, some has
floral designs, some has under the sea theme, and so much more,
4. What materials were used in making the displays? Are borders used?
Materials used are also unique per classroom there are classes that utilized styrofoam
while others use paper.
5. Do you notice some errors? (misspelled words, grammar inconsistencies and the like)
Fortunately there were no noticed errors like misspelled words, grammar
inconsistencies and the like.
6. Are the messages clear and easily understood?
The messages in each of these boards are clear and can be easily understood.
7. Think about what got your attention? Why did it get your attention?
The bulletin board that really got me was the one that has under the sea theme. One of
the message pasted on it says, “What human activities could be a threat to the
 wonderful place of nature?”. It caught my attention because it allows learners who will
stumble upon the message really think of the question thus allowing them to become
more environmentally aware paving the way for learners to care more about our
nature.
8. Take photos of the display boards.

My Board Display Lay-out

Make your own board display lay-out. You may present your output through any of these:

● a hand-made drawing or lay-out

● an electronic (computer) drawing/illustration

● a collage
 My Personal Illustration of an Effective School Environment

Inside the box, present an illustration showing your idea of an effective classroom
environment through any of these: a descriptive paragraph, a photo essay, a sketch or drawing,
a poem, song or rap.

In a place where minds ignite,

My school, a beacon shining bright,
A haven where knowledge takes its flight,
My personal illustration of pure delight.

In every classroom, a world unfurls,

With teachers as guides, wisdom's pearls,
Nurturing growth in boys and girls,
In this effective environment, dreams swirl.

Diversity blooms, in every hall,

Respect and kindness, we heed the call,
In unity, we stand tall,
In this school environment, we give our all.

With resources aplenty, and support so true,

An effective school, where dreams accrue,
A place where futures come into view,
My personal illustration, a cherished avenue.