Creating a Significant Learning Environment
Learning has shifted from the traditional lecture approach. This approach may have worked in the twentieth century but it no longer works with the students of the twenty-first century who have the internet at their fingertips.
As teachers we must adapt to the students who are currently in our classrooms. When i was in school we still looked up information in encyclopedias and used card catalogs in the library. Today, students use their phones, laptops and tablets to access massive amounts of information in seconds.
As a special education resource math teacher naturally I have to create significant learning environments. My students are at least two grade levels behind and have trouble learning in the traditional classroom setting. My priority is to create an environment where students can not only learn, but feel safe doing so.
Part of my professional development allows me to observe other classrooms for innovative ideas. More often than not I have observed classrooms where students are expected to sit quietly and take notes. The students don’t have any ownership of their learning. My innovation plan addresses this by integrating blended learning into my classroom. General education struggle in this environment so imagine how a special education student may feel.
From reading “ A New Culture of Learning: Cultivation the Imagination for a World of Constant Change”, one of the takeaways I plan to use is the idea of students participating in a collective. A collective is a collection of people, skills and talent that produces a result greater than the sum of its parts (Thomas & Brown pg. 52). They are defined by an active engagement with the process of learning. I want the students to feel like they are an integral part of the learning environment.
Peer-to-peer learning is another fundamental I will introduce to my students. People learn through their interaction and participation with one another in fluid relationships that are the result of shared interests and opportunity (Thomas & Brown pg. 50). By doing this I hope to help my students discover their voice. I tell my students just because they learn different from others doesn’t mean they do not learn. There is more than one way to get to a desired destination. The peer to peer learning gives students the opportunity to teach their peers as well as learn from them.
My biggest challenge has always been and continues to be class participation. To tackle this challenge I will continue to make my classroom a safe space. I will tell my students that we share a common goal of learning. I plan to learn just as much from them as they learn from me and each other. It may take some time for students to completely buy-in but I anticipate the learning environment to shift drastically.
Producing independent thinkers who have choice, ownership, voice and authenticity in their learning is my ultimate goal. Special education teachers need to think holistically in order to develop more well-rounded individuals. We must include lessons that have a personal connection to our students. Promoting learning outside the school setting can be done by incorporating content that connects the students to their community. I want my students to learn and therefore view themselves as lifetime learners. The concepts in “A New Culture of Learning”, will enhance how I teach my students.
Resources
Thomas, Douglas, and John Seely. Brown. A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change. CreateSpace?, 2011.
Educational Leadership 