Are you looking at the bigger picture or have you intellectually stepped far enough back to see the full learning environment? Consider the following video as you think about whether or not you are looking a the full picture:
If the youtube video wasn’t enough to help you consider the bigger picture and the importance of learning environments then consider this infographic:
Source: http://elearninginfographics.com/wp-content/uploads/If-Learning-Was-Water-Infographic.jpg
The reason that it is so important for us as educators to look at the full learning environment is that when we take the time to do so we can actually make a difference in the way that the learning environment is designed. I have argued repeatedly for many years that whether we are purposeful in its design or we just allow the circumstances to dictate its development, educators at all levels are providing some form of learning environment. There are some aspects of the learning environment design that we may not have control over like standardized testing or learners demographics but there are so many other aspects of the the learning environment that we an control. So rather than allow the environment to come together on its own and respond reactively to the learning dynamics that arise I suggest that educators become proactive and create significant learning environments. If we start with a student centred approach and purposefully assemble all the key components of effective learning into a significant learning environment we can help our students to learn how to learn and grow into the people we all hope they will become.
Are you being proactive or reactive in the deign of your learning environment? What type of a learning environment are you creating?
More thoughts on Creating Significant Learning Environments
- Significant Learning Environments
- Innovation in Education – A Return to Teaching & Learning
- Not Suited for School BUT Suited for Learning: Further Considerations
- Arts Integration for Deeper Learning: Its the Context and Environment that Matter
- Media/Visual Arts Programs vs Embedding Media into All Programs
