Creating a Significant Learning Environment

New Culture of Learning

Background

A New Culture of Learning proposes a new way of thinking about student learning. The argument is that the traditional education system is no longer effective in today's world and that we need to find new ways to promote innovation and creativity.
I believe that we need to find new ways to encourage students to be innovative and creative. The traditional education system often fails to do this, as it relies too heavily on memorization and rote learning. Thomas and Brown suggest that we should instead focus on giving students opportunities to explore their interests and develop their own knowledge. This would help them to become more engaged in their learning and more likely to come up with new ideas. A significant learning environment is a great idea, and I would love to see more schools adopt a culture of learning that encourages innovation.

Innovation Plan

Implementation Outline

Significant Learning Environment

The prospect of creating significant learning environments through the New Culture of Learning philosophy is intriguing. This new way of thinking about education emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking - three areas that I feel are essential in today's world. I plan to move toward creating significant learning environments by implementing some key strategies. First, I will create opportunities for my students to be creative and work together. One of the four components that I use when planning lessons is collaborative learning. According to Thomas and Brown (2011), "In the new culture of learning, people learn through their interaction and participation with one another in fluid relationships that are the result of shared interest and opportunity" (p. 586.). Students will be able to showcase their knowledge and creativity while working with other students using their ePortfolios. Second, I will encourage them to think critically about what they are learning and how it applies to their lives outside school. Finally, I will provide a supportive environment where risk-taking is valued and mistakes are seen as part of the learning process. As a kindergarten teacher, it is vital that I provide opportunities for my students to learn while playing. Thomas and Brown said (2011), " Children use play and imagination as the primary mechanisms for making sense of their new, rapidly evolving world" (p.549). I will provide students with engaging station activities that will allow them to build on their learning. By doing these things, I believe that my students will be better prepared to succeed in an ever-changing world.

"If the twentieth century was about creating a sense of stability to buttress against change and then trying to adapt to it, then the twenty-first century is about embracing change, not fighting it."

(Thomas & Brown, 2011)

Challenges

The words challenge and change are often closely related. Anytime there is change involved, there is usually a challenge nearby. Challenges were among the initial things I considered as I wrote my innovation plan. My main challenge will be training my early childhood learner to use the LMS to complete or upload activities to their ePortfolio. Another challenge I anticipate is allowing students the time to update their ePortfolio regularly. I plan to take the time and train my students properly in the beginning so they can navigate the LMS and periodically update in a timely manner. I also plan to promote peer-to-peer learning. Different students have unique strengths regarding technology. Students capable of grasping the concepts of the ePortfolio earlier will act as mentors to their peers so that everyone can understand better. Thomas and Brown (2011) state, "Anyone who has particular knowledge of, or experience with, a given subject may take on the role of mentor at any time" (p.586).

Just as challenges will affect me directly, there will also be organizational challenges. The main challenge will be getting other educators to buy in. Many teachers feel they have little time to implement new things because they already have many things to do. As my implementation outline presents, I plan to share my student's ePortfolio with my colleagues. I will also share the research and benefits of using ePortfolios in the classroom

Impact on the Organization

The start of this school year was unlike any my colleagues and I have ever experienced. As we sat in the data presentation, we learned that our school had a failing grade. Thankfully our school is marked as not rated this year with TEA, so we have time for improvement. Since discovering this news, I think there is no better time to implement my innovation plan than now.
Failing schools are often seen as a lost cause. But what if we looked at these schools not as problems to be fixed but as opportunities for transformation? By adopting the perspective of creating significant learning environments, we can help our school thrive. Creating a significant learning environment can hugely impact our school's success.

The implementation of ePortfolios can provide a way for students to document and reflect on their learning progress over time. Ultimately, ePortfolios shift the focus from teacher-centered instruction to learner-driven classrooms, promoting deep understanding and long-term retention of concepts. By adopting significant learning environments, teachers can help provide students with the support they need to succeed. It means giving students more choice and ownership over their learning experiences. Thomas and Brown (2011) state, "Students learn best when they are able to follow their passion and operate within the constraints of a bounded environment" (p. 1055). In an effort to improve our performance, providing students with more opportunities to engage in meaningful learning experiences is critical.

Influence & Perspective

I believe that creating significant learning environments will increase student learning experiences. By putting my implementation plan into action, I will be able to create a significant learning environment through the implementation of ePortfolios. Then I will be able to share my students' learning success with my fellow educators so that they will be able to see the benefits of a CSLE.

References

A New Culture of Learning, Douglas Thomas at TEDxUFM. (2012, September 12). Retrieved from https://youtu.be/lM80GXlyX0U

Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change.