In both of these situations, you had to be surrounded by the appropriate tools and practice using them and eventually you were able to learn how to use them appropriately and succeed at your task Why is school any different? Why does learning look so different in schools? Dr. Bates, in his YouTube video, states so clearly the comparison of students to a garden. Teachers create the garden or the learning environment and students have to grow, like plants. You can't do the learning for them, they have to do it. You as an educator can't drive for students or learn how to ride a bike for them. The students have to actually do it. You create the learning environment for students to grow and learn. When creating learning environments, we also need to address learning philosophies. Most students are probably like me, starting as a behaviorist type of learner. They may be evolving into a contructivist type of learner. Piaget goes into how some learners try and assimilate the information that they receive to create a sort of balance. The new information they receive has to be processed with knowledge already gained and in a sense, the learner wants to shift back to an equilibrium state. They can either ignore the information or manage the new information. Individuals do not like to be in disequilibrium where they are unsettled or off balance, per say (Beauchamp 2016). We as educators can help students learn by creating environments but also by being purposeful in our delivering and facilitating information. There are numerous ways that learning can be designed. One of the most beneficial ways is by starting with some questions and helping decipher what you're really trying to have students understand. I started using the Learning Environment-Situational Factors and Questions for Formulating Significant Learning Goals to help guide me through my design. Once I stepped through some of the questions, I was able to figure out what my ultimate outcome I wanted for my students. That's called a BHAG (big harry audacious goal). Starting with that large yet pinpointed goal helps keep your focus through the planning. Once you have completed your BHAG and gone through your learning environment questions and situational factors outline, you can create a 3-column table. This is an outline that helps you figure out activities, assessments and goals. There are goals focused in: foundation, application, caring, integration, human dimensions and learning how to learn. These 6 different categories help focus on the learner as a whole person. My 3-column table allows for differentiation as well as some flexibility. Understanding by design (UbD) is another way of planning and isn't anything new to education or other profession. The basis is starting with the end in mind and working backwards. The only difference is that the steps to the end are more purposeful and deliberate. Reading through Wiggins & McTighe's book has really brought clarification and purpose to designing the math courses I teach. I have never really thought about the careful moving parts that are involved. This book has really helped me be more purposeful and precise in my planning. Both the Fink's 3 Column and UbD help with creating significant learning environments, and that's my goal in the classroom as well as for teachers. Using either one of these will help take my Innovation Plan to the next level. I believe the 3 Column table will be the best design since it allows for more differentiation. This is what is needed with professional development because of the range of educators and their fields. In conclusion, creating a significant learning environment takes planning and preparation. To be able to tie all of it together, you need to stay focused on a growth mindset and allow for failure and growth. Knowing that your plan may not go as you thought, is ok. Self assess, look at the situation (including the students and what types of learners they are), fix the problems and move on! If we had more educators doing this, I believe students would be completely ready for the 'real-world'! References:
Beauchamp, Ann S. (Novemeber 2016). Cognitive equilibrium [Encyclopedia Britannica]. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/science/cognitive-equilibrium. ChangSchool.(2015, December 14). Dr. Tony Bates on building effective learning environments. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/3xD_sLNGurA Wiggins, G. & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by design (expanded second ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
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AuthorI am a believer, wife, mother, teacher, student, life long learner and a huge believer in positivity! Archives
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