Click the links to view strategies for creating significant learning environments (CSLE):
- A New Culture of Learning. What kind of classroom experience do I envision for my students? In A New Culture of Learning, students are able to engage their passion, cultivate imagination, and play. My classroom needs to be the safe haven for my students to realize their true potential for life-long learning.
- My Learning Philosophy in Motion. What do I believe in when it comes to learning? How does my learning philosophy relate to my teaching philosophy? What learning theories (and learning theorists) do I identify most with? I created an Annotated Bibliography of resources used.
- Aligning Outcomes, Activities, & Assessments. Using A Self- Directed Guide to Designing Courses for Significant Learning by L. Dee Fink, PhD, I have organized a unit with my BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal), Learning Environment-Situational Factors, Questions for Formulating Significant Learning Goals, and Three Column Table of my primary writing unit. Understanding by Design.Wiggins and McTighe's UbD 1-Page Template is a much more detailed approach to organizing a course unit's desired results, assessment evidence, and learning activities.
- Growth Mindset in my Significant Learning Environment. If I really want my students to realize their potential with blended learning, then I need to adopt the growth mindset when setting up learning environments.
A New Culture of Learning
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A New Culture of Learning in My Classroom
What kind of classroom experience do I envision for my students? I want my students to find their passion and imagination for learning new things. In A New Culture of Learning, Thomas states that the three areas of the new culture of learning are engage passion, cultivate imagination, and create in the face of obstacles to which the fundamental ingredient is play (Thomas, 2012). In my class, play is an integral part of our learning environment and imagination is a natural experience for my first graders. Furthermore,Thomas explains "In a world of near-constant flux, play becomes a strategy for embracing change, rather than a way for growing out of it" (Thomas, 2012). I hope to create a safe, passionate learning space at school that will encourage my students to want to keep learning beyond the school day and the classroom. |
Creating Significant Learning Environments (CSLE) in Response to A New Culture of Learning
In order to foster a new culture of learning, I need to Create Significant Learning Environments (CSLE). Harapnuik defines CSLE as "an integrated approach to creating flexible, engaging and effective learning environments". (Harapnuik, 2015) I need to make my learner the center of a technology-rich, blended environment where I am always asking myself "What can I do to help my learner?" I want to use the strategies in A New Culture of Learning to my advantage to create an environment where learning can flourish. Thomas states, "Thanks to digital media, the range of available collectives-along with their shape, design, and composition-is almost limitless" (Thomas, 2012). I want my students to feel like they belong in my classroom community; however, with the internet, they can belong to collectives where it means so much more. I want them to love coming to school but the learning can continue when they go home. First graders love to make connections from their learning to the real-world. My class provides the physical and virtual space for progressive and passionate learning to cultivate for years to come.
In order to foster a new culture of learning, I need to Create Significant Learning Environments (CSLE). Harapnuik defines CSLE as "an integrated approach to creating flexible, engaging and effective learning environments". (Harapnuik, 2015) I need to make my learner the center of a technology-rich, blended environment where I am always asking myself "What can I do to help my learner?" I want to use the strategies in A New Culture of Learning to my advantage to create an environment where learning can flourish. Thomas states, "Thanks to digital media, the range of available collectives-along with their shape, design, and composition-is almost limitless" (Thomas, 2012). I want my students to feel like they belong in my classroom community; however, with the internet, they can belong to collectives where it means so much more. I want them to love coming to school but the learning can continue when they go home. First graders love to make connections from their learning to the real-world. My class provides the physical and virtual space for progressive and passionate learning to cultivate for years to come.
CSLE Influencing my Innovation Plan: Blended Learning in Waves
My Innovation Plan: Blended Learning in Waves will need the optimal learning environment in order to be successful in making organizational change. CSLE utilizes several methods to deliver student-centered instruction, such as face-to-face, technology enhanced, blended, and online learning (Harapnuik, 2015). I want to bring blended learning (station-rotation model) to my primary classroom; therefore, I need to plan what kind of environment will be best for blended learning. My physical classroom is set up with the best resources available. My students are allowed to sit or stand at their desk area. They have alternate seating such as yoga balls and stool chairs. I try to provide a comfortable physical space for my students to learn. My virtual Google classroom is also organized for my students to connect to each other, find resources quickly, and keep learning as efficient as possible. I want my students to be able to be successful with blended learning so I must set up the environment for proactive learning.
My Innovation Plan: Blended Learning in Waves will need the optimal learning environment in order to be successful in making organizational change. CSLE utilizes several methods to deliver student-centered instruction, such as face-to-face, technology enhanced, blended, and online learning (Harapnuik, 2015). I want to bring blended learning (station-rotation model) to my primary classroom; therefore, I need to plan what kind of environment will be best for blended learning. My physical classroom is set up with the best resources available. My students are allowed to sit or stand at their desk area. They have alternate seating such as yoga balls and stool chairs. I try to provide a comfortable physical space for my students to learn. My virtual Google classroom is also organized for my students to connect to each other, find resources quickly, and keep learning as efficient as possible. I want my students to be able to be successful with blended learning so I must set up the environment for proactive learning.
Addressing Challenges and Foundational Perspectives
When faced with sizable organizational change, push-backs and set-backs are imminent. Dr. Harapnuik reminded me of how Piaget has extensive research on hands-on, concrete learning. There should be a lot of real-world examples for students to explore at all times. If you had the world-wide-web that could pull up anything to discover at any time, wouldn't you use it? I am a strong advocate to my peers for games to enhance instruction and engagement. Most teachers have been able to use games in centers, reviewing, formative assessments. I brought digital games to the table. It has an effect on first graders because they walk out of the womb with a tablet! I hope to inspire my first grade teachers (and K-2) to use digital games and interactives to their advantage. Check out my Pirates in Primary website for ideas of how to transform your learning environment to enhance play and imagination. Additionally, check out my Digital Learning in my Pond webpage for how I use digital tools to create the most significant learning environment.
At the end of the teaching day, I come back to what really matters: my learner's learning experience. I need to create a significant environment for my students to grow passionate about their own learning. I am a coach and mentor to lead my students to their highest potential. I need to give my students a safe environment that allows them to find their passion and cultivate their own learning.
When faced with sizable organizational change, push-backs and set-backs are imminent. Dr. Harapnuik reminded me of how Piaget has extensive research on hands-on, concrete learning. There should be a lot of real-world examples for students to explore at all times. If you had the world-wide-web that could pull up anything to discover at any time, wouldn't you use it? I am a strong advocate to my peers for games to enhance instruction and engagement. Most teachers have been able to use games in centers, reviewing, formative assessments. I brought digital games to the table. It has an effect on first graders because they walk out of the womb with a tablet! I hope to inspire my first grade teachers (and K-2) to use digital games and interactives to their advantage. Check out my Pirates in Primary website for ideas of how to transform your learning environment to enhance play and imagination. Additionally, check out my Digital Learning in my Pond webpage for how I use digital tools to create the most significant learning environment.
At the end of the teaching day, I come back to what really matters: my learner's learning experience. I need to create a significant environment for my students to grow passionate about their own learning. I am a coach and mentor to lead my students to their highest potential. I need to give my students a safe environment that allows them to find their passion and cultivate their own learning.
Read more in my blog post Growing Life-Long Learners. |
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My Learning Philosophy in Motion
What do I believe about learning?
I believe learning is constantly in full motion with interactive, hands-on activities and students are valued as necessary components of the learning process. Learning never truly ends or begins because we learn constantly and forever. Learning happens by doing, experiencing and creating. What are the connections between teaching and learning? Teaching and learning are intertwined and dependent upon each other. Now I've figured out what kind of learner I want to be, as well as all the other types of learning theories out there. I need to know what kind of environment will be beneficial to the learning theories I identify with and that I want for my students. |
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How do I identify myself as a learner?
I identify myself as a tenacious learner who needs many opportunities to visit a concept in order to fully consume its components. I need hands-on, creative outputs, connections to prior knowledge, and learning experiences. I believe learning is a constant and everlasting process, not a product to be scrutinized. As a child, I didn't identify myself as a "good" learner. I felt like I was not right for school and that I just wasn't as smart as my teachers wanted me to be. I barely performed at an average quality at all subjects. I spent the rest of my school years thinking "I'm just not good at school". However, once I started my learning journey through college and teaching, I actually do like to learn so long as its on my terms.
Learning Philosophy vs. Teaching Philosophy
A Learning Philosophy and a Teaching Philosophy should align well together. I want to define my learning style and all learning theories so that I can better teach my students. My learning will always occur in my life; I need to know what kind of learner I am to better teach my students. I am finding value in knowing the main learning theories because that will help me teach my students in a more holistic learning environment.
Constructivist, Behaviorist, Cognitivist
Constructivism is where learning is an active, constructive process. Behaviorism is where learning is based on “stimulus-response.” Cognitivism is where learning is focused on the learner's information processed by the mind. Connectivism takes these learning theories and connects them to a technological world.
My Identified Theory and the Main Theorists in Motion
I have adopted a constructivism learning theory and a hint of connectivism, for now at least. I need to be an active piece of the learning process for myself to truly understand a concept. It's not enough to just think about learning, I must be an active participant in my learning. The main theorists of constructivism are Piaget (1896 – 1980), Dewey (1859 – 1952), Vygotsky (1896 – 1943), and Bruner (1915 – 2016).
I identify myself as a tenacious learner who needs many opportunities to visit a concept in order to fully consume its components. I need hands-on, creative outputs, connections to prior knowledge, and learning experiences. I believe learning is a constant and everlasting process, not a product to be scrutinized. As a child, I didn't identify myself as a "good" learner. I felt like I was not right for school and that I just wasn't as smart as my teachers wanted me to be. I barely performed at an average quality at all subjects. I spent the rest of my school years thinking "I'm just not good at school". However, once I started my learning journey through college and teaching, I actually do like to learn so long as its on my terms.
Learning Philosophy vs. Teaching Philosophy
A Learning Philosophy and a Teaching Philosophy should align well together. I want to define my learning style and all learning theories so that I can better teach my students. My learning will always occur in my life; I need to know what kind of learner I am to better teach my students. I am finding value in knowing the main learning theories because that will help me teach my students in a more holistic learning environment.
Constructivist, Behaviorist, Cognitivist
Constructivism is where learning is an active, constructive process. Behaviorism is where learning is based on “stimulus-response.” Cognitivism is where learning is focused on the learner's information processed by the mind. Connectivism takes these learning theories and connects them to a technological world.
My Identified Theory and the Main Theorists in Motion
I have adopted a constructivism learning theory and a hint of connectivism, for now at least. I need to be an active piece of the learning process for myself to truly understand a concept. It's not enough to just think about learning, I must be an active participant in my learning. The main theorists of constructivism are Piaget (1896 – 1980), Dewey (1859 – 1952), Vygotsky (1896 – 1943), and Bruner (1915 – 2016).
My Learning Philosophy in Full Motion
My Learning Philosophy comes full circle around Constructivism, in that learning is constantly an active, building process. I have now decided on the kind of learning I want for myself and for my students. Understanding the different types of learning theories will help me better create significant learning environments (CSLE). My Learning Philosophy and My Innovation Plan: Blended Learning in Waves My Learning Philosophy fits right in with my Innovation Plan on Blended Learning. My students must have an active role in their learning and the learning environment must be student centered. In order for me to fully implement Station Rotation model, I need to use the Constructivist learning theory to create a learning environment that is always building. |
Read more in my blog post What's Your Revolution? |
Growth Mindset in my Significant Learning Environments
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Read more about the Growth Mindset and Grit in my blog post Get Down to the Nitty Gritty. |
References:
Dee, F. (2003) Creating Significant Learning Experiences: An Integrated Approach to Designing College Courses. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York: Random House
Harapnuik, D. (2016, June). Creating Significant Learning Environments (CSLE). [https://youtu.be/eZ-c7rz7eT4]. Retrieved from http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=849
Pink, D. (2009, July). The puzzle of motivation [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation/up-next
Robinson, K. (2010, February). Bring on the learning revolution! [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution/up-next
TEDx Talks. (2012, September 12). A new culture of learning, Douglas Thomas at TEDxUFM [Video File]. Retrieved fromhttps://youtu.be/lM80GXlyX0U
Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. Lexington, Ky.: CreateSpace
Dee, F. (2003) Creating Significant Learning Experiences: An Integrated Approach to Designing College Courses. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York: Random House
Harapnuik, D. (2016, June). Creating Significant Learning Environments (CSLE). [https://youtu.be/eZ-c7rz7eT4]. Retrieved from http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=849
Pink, D. (2009, July). The puzzle of motivation [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation/up-next
Robinson, K. (2010, February). Bring on the learning revolution! [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution/up-next
TEDx Talks. (2012, September 12). A new culture of learning, Douglas Thomas at TEDxUFM [Video File]. Retrieved fromhttps://youtu.be/lM80GXlyX0U
Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. Lexington, Ky.: CreateSpace