What's it all about? Learning!
Creating significant learning environments, CSLE, says it all.
Creating – The educator establishes the learning environment, but the students take ownership and do the learning.
Significant – COVA, innovation, inquiry, collaboration, making connections
Learning – project-based learning, digital learning, lifelong learning, 21st century learning
Environments – growth mindset, learner-centered, authentic
CSLE is all about the LEARNING. This is not just any learning, but REAL and AUTHENTIC learning. The learning environment is about learning HOW to learn and has completely altered my thinking on what effective teaching looks like. We need to connect dots rather than merely collect dots and help our learners do the same.
Over the last few weeks, I created my significant learning environment by first looking at A New Culture of Learning (2011) to determine that significant learning environments are student-centered with play and imagination. I then created my learning philosophy and teaching philosophy and found that I am a cognitive constructivist, believing that in order for students to learn they must construct knowledge for themselves by internalizing and connecting to prior knowledge using metacognition. I knew this was the learning environment I wanted to create, so then I used Fink’s 3 column table to align my outcomes, activities, and assessments. This allowed me to create a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) and see the bigger picture. Then I dug deeper into my goals by following the UbD Template to create an action plan with desired results, assessment evidence, and a learning plan. Finally, I tied it all together with my growth mindset plan because students cannot take ownership and learn if they don't believe in themselves, recognize that learning is based on effort, and know that it is okay to fail. They must have grit to work through the challenges and never give up in order for significant learning to occur.
My innovation plan “Ditch the Basement Box” matches my desire to create significant learning environments. When students create and develop ePortfolios, they are taking ownership of their learning and making connections through reflection. The ePortfolio shows the PROCESS of learning along with the products recognizing that success takes time. Additionally, the use of ePortfolios embodies COVA and developing lifelong learners.
Overall, CSLE revolves around one thing – LEARNING. Educators need to create significant learning environments to allow their learners to make connections and be lifelong learners. Make it about the learning.
References
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York: Random House.
Fink, L. D., PhD. (n.d.). A self-directed guide to designing courses for significant learning. Retrieved from https://luonline.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-3042999-dt-content-rid-30108308_1/courses/13583.201810/Self-Directed%20Guide%20to%20Course%20Design%20-%20Fink%20Summary.pdf
Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. Lexington, KY: CreateSpace.
Wiggins, G. P., & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by design. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
