The idea that learning and environment are linked is an idea that has been around for a long time. However, my third practicum school is throwing this idea out the window and is bringing in integrated, innovative, future focused curriculum without the “innovative learning space”. They are integrating their juniors (year 9 and 10) in to units that will allow three different subjects to be taught together by 3 different specialist subject teachers. Which will be planned around what McPhail (2016), calls external organisers, such as themes, topics and projects. With around 75 students in an option line. Each unit has a foucing question (eg: What is the maximum of human potential?) and requires students to work on a project that demonstrates their learning across the three subjects by achieving predetermined curriculum outcomes in each of the subjects.
This is all very exciting and innovative but the problem that the school faces is that none of its classrooms are set up to hold 75 students. They have no spaces that would be considered innovative learning environments. The school was built in 1956 in a very kiwi school style with blocks of single cell classrooms and lots of outdoor space. This innovative style of learning is generally found in innovative classrooms, with big open spaces and multiple teachers per class.
They are getting around this by using innovative learning practices (McPhail, 2018) and completely changing the time table for junior students. They will split each option into normal class size and the students are required to be at certain classes at certain times for content input from the specialist teacher and at other times they can check in to whichever teacher will be able to help them most in their project or to achieve their curriculum outcomes. This will mean that each of the teachers will only be teaching approx 30 students at once, but they will repeat the lesson enough times to ensure the whole option receives the input, allowing the students to cycle through the different teachers lessons. Students will complete 4 units a semester (2 Terms) and will encounter every unit at some point in year 9 or 10.
For this to be successful students and teachers will have to be fully on board with this new way of teaching. Students will have to be highly self managing and organise their time and learning well. The teacher student whanau relationship also has to be strong as students will need to take ownership of their learning and manage their time effectively. Teachers will have to embrace the new way and work collaboratively and reflectively.
In my personal opinion, this is potentially a really exciting way to move forward in education. I commend the school for not waiting for the environment to deliver the option for an innovative curriculum. Innovative learning environments are more than the space that the students occupy. Includes many different facets of education, not only the physical space but also the social and pedagogical context (Ministry of Education, 2019). Some may argue that there will be students who will not do well in an innovative space, but in reality there are many students that don’t do well in our current traditional space.
The student centred, project based self managing principles are at the centre of ILEs and this is what the school have done. In the future it is unclear at this point if they are going to convert their buildings into more traditional ILEs but the ground work in the curriculum and shift in culture happening now will ensure that any transition will be what in the best interest of the students.
references
McPhail, G.J. (2016). From aspirations to practice: curriculum challenges for a new ‘twenty- first century’ secondary school. The curriculum Journal. 26(4).
McPhail, G.J. (2018) Curriculum integration in the senior secondary school: a cse study in a national assessment context. The Journal of curriculum studies. 50(1).
Ministry of Education (2019) TKI: Enabling E-learning. Retrieved from: http://elearning.tki.org.nz/Teaching/Innovative-learning-environments#js-tabcontainer-1-tab-1
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