Company is Coming! Creating a Warm, Welcoming

Learning Environment

The Cone of Learning

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

After 24 hours, we can remember and use:

Visual: 60%Kinesthetic: 25%

Auditory: 15%

What kind of learner are you?

Visual Learners: Visuals Handouts Worksheets Props Food Activities

Eating Smart ● Being Active

Kinesthetic Learners: Food activities Lesson activities Worksheets

Eating Smart ● Being Active

Auditory Learners Music Adds Partner interactions

Eating Smart ● Being Active

60% of us are visual learners

4/5th of the brain processes visually

The Power of the Visual

RespectSafetyTrust

Adult Learning Principles

Adult learners want to be respected for who they are, where they’ve been, and what they

already know.

What you can do:• Be prepared• Know your subject• Listen to what they say

Respect

In addition to physical safety, learners will respond better to new learning activities if

they feel emotionally safe to fully participate, to speak out, to take risks if needed.

What you can do:• Share ground rules at beginning (“I won’t call

on you”)• Affirm responses (“Thank you for sharing”)• Reveal your own errors

Safety

Your learners want to know: Do you care about me? Can you help me? AND, can I trust you?

What you can do:• Do what you say you will do• Don’t do what you said you wouldn’t do (call on

them)• Keep confidences• Show up (be there when you say you will)

Trust

Learning starts at the door!

Company’s coming

Create a focal point

Setting the Learning Environment

Arrive early Negotiate with host about room set-up Clean-up Signs Color You decorate the room Decorate the tables

Setting the Learning Environment

___ Put up a welcome sign___ Have some music playing when folks arrive___ Have materials set out and ready to go___ Use as much color as you can___ Set up a table for your things in a decorative way___ Arrange chairs in circles or small groups___ Use program marketing materials to the room and reinforce program name and logo___ “Decorate” the tables with colorful things related to the lesson

Positive Learning Environment Ideas

Welcoming Learning Environment kits for each core lesson

How to use these kits Samples from each lesson

Creating a Welcoming Learning Environment

A good way to think about creating a warm, welcoming environment is “company is coming!”

When company is coming: Arrive early Clean the space Set up the room Decorate the room Play music

Company is Coming!