Activity Three - Contemporary Trends in New Zealand and Internationally
Innovative Learning Environments - Trend?
Modern Learning Environments, Innovative Learning Environments, Flexible Learning Environments. All are the same thing known by a different term. I stepped out of teaching for a few years very recently and have only just re-entered a classroom. During that time I worked in a Company that promoted the set up these collaborative environments. At first, I was dubious, but after doing some reading and listening to what teachers were wanting to achieve for their students, it began to become a passion for me. I particularly loved being involved in the new builds, where I gave advice on everything, from the placement of walls (usually the outside ones), to voice reinforcement systems to technologies on their wish lists. Hence, now that I am back in a school where ILE's are just beginning to be set up, I am both excited to see them in place, but also irritated by the things that I see that haven't been taken into consideration when a wall was knocked down or no proper sound installed.
The classroom I am currently in, I totally love. It's big and bright and inviting, however, it is not currently what is seen as an ILE. There is a door through to the next class and that teacher and I are evolving our learning areas. We collaborate a lot and both classes feel as comfortable cruising from one classroom to another. Osborne (2013) mentions in his white paper that these learning environments offer teachers and students openness (different learning spaces), flexibility (team teaching) and access to a variety of resources. So, I would argue that we are already an ILE and we are killing it! The opportunities that the students have had to draw on our strengths is huge.
I had an experience a few years ago when the teacher next door to me was not meeting the requirements of the learner's needs, so as I was already in an open plan classroom (left over from the late 70's), a decision was made to move both the teacher and the student's in with me until the end of the year. Worst year of my life! She became the highest paid teacher aide in New Zealand and I spent my life trying to meet the needs of 60 children. Worst decision ever! Looking back now, I guess that is why I was dubious about these modern learning environments.
Cuban (2004) states that 'Open Classrooms' first burst onto the scene in the late 1960's in Britain and America where informal education dominated teaching and learning, however, by early 1980's it had all but disappeared across the world, New Zealand included, and was labeled as an 'education fad'.
I think that what is different this time around is that educators have realised is that initiatives such as this cannot be put into place without a change of pedagogy. Teaching this collaboratively means an absolute change in how you teach and what you teach. I for one am really loving this trend, and I hope it is one that lasts many years!
Cuban, L. (2004). The Open Classroom. Education Next, 4 (2), 69-71. http://educationnext.org/theopenclassroom/
Osborne, M. (2013). Modern Learning Environments (White Paper). Retrieved October 28, 2017 from http://www.core-ed.org/legacy/sites/core-ed.org/files/Modern-Learning-Environments-v.1.pdf?url=/sites/core-ed.org/files/Modern-Learning-Environments-v.1.pdf
The classroom I am currently in, I totally love. It's big and bright and inviting, however, it is not currently what is seen as an ILE. There is a door through to the next class and that teacher and I are evolving our learning areas. We collaborate a lot and both classes feel as comfortable cruising from one classroom to another. Osborne (2013) mentions in his white paper that these learning environments offer teachers and students openness (different learning spaces), flexibility (team teaching) and access to a variety of resources. So, I would argue that we are already an ILE and we are killing it! The opportunities that the students have had to draw on our strengths is huge.
I had an experience a few years ago when the teacher next door to me was not meeting the requirements of the learner's needs, so as I was already in an open plan classroom (left over from the late 70's), a decision was made to move both the teacher and the student's in with me until the end of the year. Worst year of my life! She became the highest paid teacher aide in New Zealand and I spent my life trying to meet the needs of 60 children. Worst decision ever! Looking back now, I guess that is why I was dubious about these modern learning environments.
Cuban (2004) states that 'Open Classrooms' first burst onto the scene in the late 1960's in Britain and America where informal education dominated teaching and learning, however, by early 1980's it had all but disappeared across the world, New Zealand included, and was labeled as an 'education fad'.
I think that what is different this time around is that educators have realised is that initiatives such as this cannot be put into place without a change of pedagogy. Teaching this collaboratively means an absolute change in how you teach and what you teach. I for one am really loving this trend, and I hope it is one that lasts many years!
References:
Cuban, L. (2004). The Open Classroom. Education Next, 4 (2), 69-71. http://educationnext.org/theopenclassroom/
Osborne, M. (2013). Modern Learning Environments (White Paper). Retrieved October 28, 2017 from http://www.core-ed.org/legacy/sites/core-ed.org/files/Modern-Learning-Environments-v.1.pdf?url=/sites/core-ed.org/files/Modern-Learning-Environments-v.1.pdf
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