4.3 Five criteria to consider in effective class management[EN] SM2

FIVE CRITERIA TO CONSIDER IN EFFECTIVE CLASS MANAGEMENT

As we have seen, the strategic organization of the class and classroom is vital. We can guide the process of managing an effective class by following five key criteria that emerge from good practices and available evidence:

Maintain a cordial, inclusive, and integrated relationship with students

Identify the key points of sequence of the methodology to be used

Maintain a cordial, inclusive, and integrated relationship with students

Evidence reveals the importance of competencies or soft skills and of the teacher's attitude. Being demanding does not conflict with other types of skills, especially when the human factor is at the center of the educational process.

Promote a challenging and positive atmosphere for learning

Generate effective, interactive, and collaborative spaces between peers and the teaching staff

Use technological tools for management and learning

Identify the key points of sequence of the methodology to be used

Following a pre-established methodology or one based on one's own experience and identifying the key moments or phases of the learning sequence will provide some clarity and strategy to the educational process and, specifically, help to understand how to address each one of these moments.

Promote a challenging and positive atmosphere for learning

The atmosphere generated in the educational process can determine the achievement and quality of learning. Consequently, one of the keys to promote educational processes with high student engagement is the creation of challenging scenarios, capable of motivating and making sense of the "why" of learning.

Generate effective, interactive, and collaborative spaces between peers and the teaching staff

One of the keys to learning are the 360º collaborative processes (peers, peer-teachers, and teacher-students). The human factor is what makes the educational experience in addition to the interactions. Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective interactive situations beyond spontaneous spaces or only between teachers and students.

Use technological tools for management and learning

Nowadays, there are many freely available tools that allow us to develop even better learning experiences and process management. These tools, combined with a bit of creativity, can be crucial for successful teaching processes. However, rather than just focusing on the novelty or complexity of the tool, one must consider the impact on learning and the educational experience of the student. The simplest tools are often the most effective.