A Word from the Principal: February 2015

Last year I completed the first post in a series of four relating to my study leave. The topic I covered was Autism Spectrum Disorders. The second post I want to share is related to something you have all no doubt heard being 'bandied' about over the last 18 months or so with the major shifts in education across Canterbury going full steam ahead. You have probably all heard the term, Modern Learning Environment (MLEs)' for instance. The paper I completed, 'Transforming Education in Canterbury' was all about the shifts in educational thinking connected with MLEs. Here is my synopsis and reflection of the course:

Course Two: Transforming Education in Canterbury

This course was a special paper designed specifically for educators within the Canterbury region where there is a significant push to implement modern learning practices and pedagogy alongside the redevelopment of many school environments post-earthquake. Around 65 educators participated in the course, mostly from the primary school sector with varied roles and responsibilities from classroom teachers, middle leaders and principals through to RTLBs and other professionals connected with the sector.

‘Modern Learning Environment (MLEs)’ is probably a phrase that you have heard if you have connections with any students at schools within the region. Usually parents associate MLEs with the physical spaces of a school, large open plan areas with large numbers of students (40-120) and two to three teachers all sharing this space. However there is much more to MLEs than just the space and large numbers of students working together. Critical to this shift in thinking is the influence of technology on our learning environments and the ever increasing body of research that gives us an increasing understanding of how students actually learn and what sorts of skills they will need to have to be successful into the future. MLEs have a strong focus on developing skills that enable students to be self-directed learners with the ability to collaborate and be creative. Research today also acknowledges the social nature of learning, that is the learning that takes place through a range of social interactions and MLEs encourage schools to make wider connections within and outside of their classroom walls to facilitate multiple authentic opportunities to learn from a range of sources, not just teachers or parents.

The first assignment for the course asked us to examine an aspect of MLEs that interested us or was relevant to our context and to do a scoping exercise on this area. This scoping was done in two parts, firstly what does the research say and secondly how does our school measure up? My focus was on how blended e-learning (the integration of both face-to-face and online learning) could be used effectively within an MLE. Have a read to see how we stack up and to learn more about both MLEs and Blended E-Learning: Blended E-Learning Scoping Report

Our school has made significant investment in the area of technology integration so I thought this was a worthwhile focus area for me. You will be pleased to know that we are already doing many things that reflect modern learning practices, things such as our inquiry approach to learning, involving students in their own assessment and of course using technology being just a few examples. However I want to make sure we move ahead further with everyone on board, that means we won’t be knocking down any walls before we really ponder the influence and potential this collaborative approach to learning can have on our community. A really positive aspect of the course was that it didn’t just focus on the ‘what’ of a MLE it also explored the ‘how’ and the process of transformation alongside your community and this was really valuable. An outcome of the course was a design proposal that I was asked to create that provided a plan for introducing the transformation in my school connected to the focus in my Scoping Report. This is my design proposal: Blended Learning Design Proposal

This is at this stage very much a discussion document and as a leadership team at school we will use it as such when planning for this year.

It is now just over a week since we welcomed our students and families back through the door for the start of the 2015 school year and what a positive start it has been! The students are already focussed on their learning and getting to know their new classmates and teacher, setting them up for what I am sure will be a rewarding and successful year.

We can't wait to see everyone at our Ako Meetings next Wednesday and Thursday so make sure you book a meeting by following the link below and using the code, C5NFK:

www.schoolinterviews.co.nz

These meetings are all about getting to know each other better as a way of setting up a successful year so don't miss them!

One of the things I really enjoy doing is getting out in the playground with the students. Flavour of the month at the moment is T-Ball, although the southerly tested our will-power yesterday. This is a great action shot with the sun shining!