There are no short cuts and there are many legitimate responses to new learning spaces. Stephen Heppell’s advice to teachers asking how they should work in new learning spaces is the simplest and clearest I’ve heard The key message here is to be inquisitive, innovative, and collaborative – there is no roadmap. And that’s part of the professional journey and the reward that comes with teachers taking great control of the learning environment
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Hi Greg,
Sound advice and overall, a very good rationale. I agree very much with Heppell.
At the same time, I regret just a little that our school’s work with the current Connected Learning (integrated curriculum) program which makes extensive use of agile spaces has been a rather lonely journey.
Time spent teaching is all-too-often all-consuming. While the integrated curriculum is one focus for my Masters (and I’ve researched this area quite a bit), finding opportunities to connect theory with practice, to network with other schools and to reflect broadly and frequently have all been challenging.
I think the lines between teacher-level, school-level and system-level responsibilities are hazy at best. Of course that’s because so much of this is so new to us in the Parramatta diocese. Support, opportunities to network and the mandate to rethink teaching practices in the face of traditionalist moves towards rigid curricula and high-stakes testing are key.
Watch this space, eh? 🙂
M
Michael. You hit the nail right on the head. We have to connect these teachers and we’re working flat out to do so. Keep heart it is happening.
Michael – what a thoughtful comment, and spot on.
I do think the challenge is to get these high quality professional conversations going between schools worldwide and I look forward to joining up, and joining, a few school-to-school Skype conversations over the next term
S
PS I laughed at “watch this space” – very good!
I think too that it is important as a starting point, that all teachers are able to articulate their own philosophies. Too often, teachers begin their careers and forget why they do what they do. In a way, we need to deconstruct what we have been doing and to reconstruct to suit our diverse learning communities. I smile a bit at how some are looking at the why and how instead of looking at their own philosophy and their own learning communities. Yes, if we try to do what we have always done, the way we have always done it, we look like baby chicks under heat lamps with teachers and their students within the learning space. I have given this a lot of thought and looked deep and wide and come to the conclusion that collaboration begins when we can articulate our philosophy in developing a shared philosophy and to explore best practice in terms of pedagogy. Work such as Shonkoff’s critical brain periods scientifically validates socio cultural perspectives. I am also a strong advocate for democratic principles being implemented in contemporary learning. I would also recommend some exploration of Early Childhood Principles…. LeeB:)