Structured Environment

Structured Environment

Structured environments describe the conditions under which a person should be taught rather than “where’ or “what” (i.e. learning how to learn) This is a system for organizing their environments, developing appropriate activities, and helping people understand what is expected of them. Structure utilizes visual cues which will help the student focus on the relevant information which can, at times, be difficult for students to distinguish from the non-relevant information. Structure addresses challenging behaviors in a proactive manner by creating appropriate and meaningful environments that reduce stress, anxiety, and frustrations.

The components of structure are physical organizations, scheduling, and teaching methods. The key to effectively using each of these features is individualization. An environment that is physically well-organized and structured will not benefit children unless individual strengths and needs are considered in the planning phase. The family should use teaching methods such as prompts and reinforcement.