#whatiscl

(via Creating learning spaces | EDtalks)

Anne Kenneally started the year looking at desks in rows and thought there just has got to be a better way. She has spent this year experimenting with student designed learning spaces, allowing the students to take the lead in deciding what spaces they need for different activities. In this EDtalk Anne explores the changes in her students and their learning environment.

Anne had began exploring the concept of Caves, Campfires, and Watering holes, diffrent spaces that compliment children’s learning styles!

(via Modern learning practice | EDtalks)

Myross Bush is a traditionally built school on the outside, but what you find on the inside might surprise you. Tim Lovelock, Mark Herring and Evelyn Aurik explain how a school-wide goal led to a change in pedagogy and in term a change of environment. 

This video showcases Myross Bush School whom transformed their learning spaces that better fit the children’s learning.

An article that talks about the different types of schools that the students want - further explaining the different types of schools mentioned in a previous post about the competition.

I’ve been mentioning 21st century skills in previous posts But what are 21st century skills? Here is a page from ThoughtfulLearning that lists what some skills are and a video further explaining what they are and how can we use them (4Cs).

Suzie Boss, journalist and PBL advocate, outlines how project-based learning can build 21st Century Skills. This post outlines the benefits that PBL can bring a positive shift within our classrooms in terms of students’ knowledge, education, and skills for the future.

A few examples of the learning experiences that happen more frequently in PBL classrooms which Suzie mentioned are:

Students compare information from different sources before completing an assignment

Students draw their own conclusions based on analysis of numbers, facts, or relevant information

Students try to solve complex problems or answer questions that have no single correct solution

Students give feedback to peers or assess other students' work Students convey their ideas using media other than a written paper (such as posters, blogs, or videos)

Students answer questions in front of an audience

Students generate their own ideas about how to confront a problem

Once teachers make the shift to PBL, with the help of sustained professional development and time for collaboration, then students get to spend more of their time developing the skills they will need for the future. -Suzie Boss

21st century learning does not necessarily require the newest technology. Take at look at these Living Schoolyards for an idea. Although it may not mean the whole school is “21st century” but we sometimes forget about intergrating the outdoors and the school yards