Reflection on Learning Spaces

To now take the time to reflect on the last 12 weeks in the unit EDFD 459 The Learning Space is perhaps a great way to show my new understandings and perceptions.

To start with I will go back to the term Learning Space and ask what does this mean? I might have thought 12 weeks ago that it could only mean the classroom and why not just use this term? Classrooms were by far the single most important space for learning, it was where most of the  learning occurred within a school. The shift of the way 21st-century learning occurs  is well under way and this  encourages a variety of teaching methods, flexible learning spaces will provide opportunities for teachers/students to work together in new ways. So now, the term Learning Spaces start to mean something with a greater meaning, not just the physical space.

Flexible spaces have given teachers choices in ways they interact with students, which is of course is so different to the way schools were set up when I attended Primary and Secondary school. The flexible learning space can also give teachers a stronger sense of what students are learning and how to make richer connections between different learning areas. How I am able to practice my teaching is by embracing the opportunity to put the learner at the heart of the education system and allow flexibility so that I am able to meet the needs of the individual student. It’s about social and collaborative learning, student directed/teacher directed learning, with an integrated curriculum that is flexible in its design.

Future learning spaces will have students at the center  with teaching tailored to the learning preferences of different learners, to connect to the learners interests and what they already know. As a result of my learning over the last 12 weeks ,I take with me a feeling of a list of possibilities to explore in the physical classroom space. Flexibility is the key word for me , to allow for flexible student and teacher groupings, improved access to resources, linking pedagogy to the virtual space and the use of ICT as key learning and teaching tools.

Idea Boxes- Burundi

Researching for my FLS came across the Idea Boxes Kits–WOW This was an AHA moment for me.

This media centre kit can be set up in less than 20 minutes.

Each kit includes  several boxes that can be turned into tables, benches, and other furniture.

The boxes contain a variety of things in consultation with refugees and humanitarian staff.

e-readers and books

tablets and laptops

cameras and video projectors

board and video games

arts and crafts materials

generator and internet connection

Idea Box developed with all the resources together.

KAKUMA GIRLS- THE BOOK

While researching the Kakuma Refugee camp I came across the story of a 17-year-old girl called Clare Morneau.

She started a penpal program in 2014 between her school Havergal College in Toronto and girls living in the Kakuma Refugee Camp.

She published the book, which was full of stories and the letters that had been written by the Kakuma Girls.

Throughout the story, Clare talked about the challenges that these girls faced some of which included:

The pressure for the girls to marry young.

The lack of sanitary products and supplies for the girls.

The long disatances they have to walk to get to school.

When all of this comes together it makes  these girls feel like there is no future, no hope and there is really no point in getting an education.

So, this makes my Future Learning Space become more focused on providing a space that offers opportunities for learning beyond the classroom and innovative ways to create learning through working with other students from all around the world.

Despite all the barriers they face Claire wrote that their stories came out saying, ‘I want an education, I want to support my family, I want to improve my life, I want to rebuild my country.

This was a great AHA moment for me and I have had a lovely conversation with my 16-year-old daughter about becoming a penpal to the girls at Kakuma.

Education and UNHCR

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees- UNHCR

The UNHCR was created in 1950, during the aftermath of the second world war, to help millions of Europeans who had fled or lost their homes.

The UNHCR strive to ‘ ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find a safe refuge during times of displacement.’

I was drawn to this organization to assist me with my research for Assignment 2 as a vital aspect of the work that they do is based on education being a basic right for all humans. Without a chance to study, an entire generation is at risk.

In times of displacement, education is crucial, it can foster social cohesion, provide access to life-saving information, address psychosocial needs, and offer a stable and safe environment for those who need it most. It helps people to rebuild their communities and pursue productive, meaningful lives.

They partner with governments and international organisations to ensure quality and protective education for refugees. They set sustainable goals and one of the goals I will use as a base for the development of my future learning space is.

‘Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning’.

I have also briefly viewed the 6 Briefs – UNHCR Education Briefs which they use as guidelines for their work.

 

 

My Refugee Hub and Initiative

It has been a long process to decide on  where and what I would base my Future learning Space on, once you start reading and researching refugee camps it is just not possible to skim over the stories and information. It has been an education for me to learn about what is happening around the world and to read the plight of so many people who have fled their countries and become refugees has left me at times speechless.

I have decided to base my Future Learning Space in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Northwest Kenya. My initiative after exploring the site ‘Teachers Without Borders’ is going to be ‘Girls Education’.

The learning Spaces based on our semester work will be:

Beyond the Classroom    The Group Space        The Electronic Space

I am hoping that I will be able to develop a realistic approach to this task as it is hard to even imagine what it is really like unless you are living it.

Teachers Without Borders

Mission Statement

‘Teachers are the largest professionally trained group in the world, the key local catalyst of change and hope. Teachers Without Borders connects teachers and information and each other in order to bring about social change-world-wide’.

Tagline is- Teachers. Leaders. Worldwide

What they do:

The initiatives are listed below , it was interesting to see what TWB has initiated and what they implement to deal with the problems of refugees

Girls Education    Peace Education    Quake Science & Safety        Education in Emergencies     ICT in Education

Bridges to Understanding        Bullying           Child-Friendly Spaces           Legal Practice

 

Mission and Vision

Teachers Without Borders connects teachers to information and each other in order to make a difference in their communities- on a global scale.

Teachers Without Borders believes strongly that quality education for girls should be one of our highest priorities. We know that education of girls (and their retention in schools) enhances every major component of global development.

TWB’s promotes the free and open use of collective wisdom generated from every culture to help all teachers work more effectively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Learning Spaces- An Analogy

In the introduction to my ‘artifact , I used the idea of an analogy to compare the six learning spaces to that of a layered rainbow cake.

Each layer representing  a ‘ Learning Space’.

The School   The Classroom     The Group        The Electonic    Beyond the Classroom. The Liminal

Each layer supports the other in order for it to form the one object or one concept, it does not really matter what the order is ( as in the formation of the cake what color comes first etc). However, each layer or space will rely on another for it to come together and be successful , everything is interwoven.

Although my artifact was presented in a format of a video which in reflection was not the best way to present it( I somehow got lost along the way with this). I did feel my analogy was worthwhile mentioning in my posts for my PLN.

The visual of the cake to me is stunning and clever and creative, a big change compared to the rainbow cake or marble cake we made many years ago.

 

Updated Taxonomies

Self- Motivation

To enter learning tasks, take responsibility, plan own learning outcomes and activities.

Self -Management

To control one’s own behaviour and resources, to think independently, solve problems creatively and make decisions.

Self- Motivation

To consistently monitor one’s own thinking and actions through self-reflection and evaluation.

Self-Modification

To change behaviour based on self-monitoring and on feedback received from others.

I was reading back on my notes from week 3 and found this quote from Malcolm Knowles on self-directed learning which applies to where I am and also students who I work with

‘That people who take the initiative in learning (proactive learners) learn more things, and learn better than do people who sit at the feet of the teachers passively waiting to be taught (reactive learners)’.

A taxonomy enhances my own personal space by giving me the opportunity to be responsible for my  progress and how I learn.

 

 

 

 

Policy and Checklist for Excursions/Incursions

There are a number of factors that need to be considered when organising an incursion/excursion.

excursions-and-incursions-policy-cathy-griffin

This form can be used as a guideline/ policy in preparation for planning a visit outside the school or a visit from a provider to the school.

The Liminal Space

The concept of liminal space was not something that I had heard of before so I decided to , along with reading the article chosen for Modle 2, get the dictionary definition.

The word liminal comes from the Latin word, which means ‘threshold’.  Ok that rang a bell, I have heard of the saying ‘standing on the threshold…..’ I found this quote that gives a further description of the concept.

…It is when you have the tried and true and have not been able to replace it with anything else. It is when you are in between your old comfort zone and any possible new answer. If you are not trained to entrust and wait, you will run.. anything to flee this terrible cloud of unknowing. ( Richard Rohr)

Liminality is perhaps the in-between moment, the space between an inciting incident in a story.

I realised that in my ‘life journey’ I have had many moments of being on the ‘threshold, being in a familiar space and looking to cross over to a new or even riskier space beyond the threshold. I have also chosen to stay in the safer zone until I was ready to move on, or perhaps not at all.

Real learning requires stepping into the unknown, which initiates a rupture in knowing ( Leslie Schwartzman).

My personal liminal space could be compared to the concept of Liminal Architecture, exploring what could be and  having insight, inspiration and innovation in building something beyond the threshold.

It’s an interesting concept!