Managing the Computing classroom environment to improve learning - A Practical Guide to Teaching Computing and ICT in the Secondary School - page 58

Task 3.1
Answer the following:
What else might the teacher do during the lesson?
You might well have suggested some or all of the following for Task 3.1 :
• Answer questions from members of the class
• Ask individuals, or the class as a whole, a series of questions
• Make suggestions for improvements either to the class as a whole or to
individuals
• Call the class together to explain something which has concerned a number of
individuals
• Demonstrate a new technique using the projector
• Demonstrate something by taking over control of everyone's computers
• Talk to individuals about pastoral matters.
Whatever you have suggested in answer to Task 3.1 it will certainly have shown
you that the teacher does not stand at the front of the class for the whole lesson,
but engages in a whole range of interactions with the pupils. These interactions
are a very important part of the learning and teaching process. The quality of
these interactions can be influenced by a wide range of factors that you must
consider.
WELFARE FACTORS (YOURS AND THE PUPILS') AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(WIRES, THE WEB, WALLPAPER, WEATHER AND WASPS)
Welfare and motivation
The motivation of your pupils is very important if they are to do well. Child (1997)
describes motivation as being of two kinds; intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic
motivation stems from a sense of achievement at having solved a difficult problem,
perhaps having debugged a procedure, while extrinsic motivation stems from
external considerations; e.g. praise from the teacher or the need to complete some
coursework by a given deadline.
However, before pupils can become motivated they must, according to Maslow's
model (1970), have been provided with what he describes as lower-level needs. At
the very basic level, these are listed as physiological needs, e.g. food and warmth,
and then physical needs, such as a safe and comfortable working environment.
Without these, Maslow suggests that pupils will not reach the higher levels of his
motivational hierarchy.
This suggests that before your pupils can learn effectively you must do your best
to provide them with a comfortable and safe environment.
Health and safety issues: wires
The school has a corporate responsibility for the health and safety of all people in
the school. As a teacher you must be aware of health and safety and who to report
issues to. There are additional issues for the Computing classroom as it is potentially
a hazardous place, full of electrical equipment.