The balance between teaching strategies and assessment = opportunities for technology innovation
notes from michael’s class
This week’s class got me fired up about technology innovation, as it seems to lead the way for student-led, inquiry-based and creative innovative learning. As we’ve learned so far in this class, robots are taking over the world. No, just kidding. But not really…
So many jobs today are being taken up by AI and robots, that now a shift is occurring. Education is gravitating more towards nurturing that creativity and critical thinking in students, rather than focusing on facts and memorization (which robots can simply do so much better than us!) This concept of student-led learning has been a passion of mine since I started the Education program, so I was excited to talk more about what a learning design classroom could look like.
This book is written by an inquiry creative teacher Trevor Mackenzie who teaches in our very own town, Oak Bay! I got the book from the public library and excited to dive in!
When we talk Learning Design we create classrooms that nurture creativity, almost like the book of “Atomic Habits” that touches on creating environments that make it easy for you to invest in the habits and goals you’re wanting to achieve. For example, setting up a gym in your garage if you’re wanting to get more fit, taking the TV out of your bedroom if you’re wanting to sleep better, or setting up a “creative room” if you’re wanting to work more on your artistic side. This kind of mentality is the driving force behind learning design classrooms, and here’s a couple examples of these type of spaces that promote creativity:
- Calm colours instead of bright colours
- Spacious
- Desks reflecting collaboration, in clumps, and able to be moved. (What does that say when all seats are pointed to the front? What does that say to a learner whos knowledge is important?)
- Open seating, accessible classrooms
- Options for seating: they don’t have to sit in just one chair.
- Learning walls (all the work on the walls are student’s work, promotes pride in work as well as acceleration to keep going).
Love it! That’s all for now!
– reflection 7.0