Teach. Tech. Math.
A New Culture of Learning
As educators, our mission is to optimize student learning. Yet, our efforts may need to be revised to create meaningful educational change. We must foster a supportive, learner-centered, and inclusive learning environment to achieve this. Traditional approaches have yet to ignite actual educational change. Despite investments in learning programs and strategies, a crucial element often goes unnoticed: the broader perspective.
Doulas Thomas and John Seely Brown’s book A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change insists that learning has transformed, with readily accessible information and global connectivity reshaping the process. We must focus on creating significant learning environments (CSLE) to change education. These environments allow room for play and imagination, encourage peer-to-peer collaboration, and allow students to ignite their passions (Thomas & Brown, 2011, p.18). With significant learning environments, we can foster growth and change in our education systems.
Learning is not confined to the classroom; it is a continuous process that permeates our surroundings. Every individual and every element in our environment contributes to our learning journey (Thomas & Brown, 2011, p.32). As educators, we play a pivotal role in creating significant learning environments that address several critical problems today, such as lack of student engagement, limited opportunities for deep learning, and a disconnect between traditional and modern teaching methods. Our efforts are crucial in shaping the learning experiences of our students.
Challenges CSLE Solutions
Traditional teaching methods often fail to fully engage students, leading to disinterest and disengagement in the learning process.
Significant learning environments can effectively capture students' attention and motivate them to participate actively in their learning journey by fostering play, imagination, and questioning in the learning process (Thomas & Brown, 2011, p. 18).
Many classrooms struggle to provide opportunities for students to engage in profound, meaningful learning experiences that foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and conceptual understanding.
Significant learning environments prioritize active learning, collaboration (peer-to-peer learning), and inquiry-based approaches, allowing students to delve deeply into subjects, make connections, and construct their knowledge (Thomas & Brown, 2011, p. 50).
With the rapid advancements in technology and changes in society, there is often a disconnect between conventional teaching methods and the evolving needs of learners in the twenty-first century.
Significant learning environments embrace innovative practices that leverage technology, promote digital literacy, and cultivate essential skills such as creativity, communication, collaboration, and adaptability, ensuring that students are prepared for success in today's world. Our students are so highly connected to technology, and technology is ever-evolving that we need to keep up with our students (Harapnuik, 2015).
CSLE & My Innovation Plan
Gaining a broader perspective on learning environments has profoundly influenced my current outlook on education. Integrating the lessons in Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown’s book A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change will enable my students to expand their learning further. My innovation plan focuses on harnessing technology to better equip students in advanced mathematics by incorporating blended and flipped learning. Our students often have a broad range of academic levels in mathematics. By focusing on the learning environment, we can allow students to have fun with math through imagination and play. In the technology age, many applications will enable students to explore mathematical processes in a safe environment (TEDx Talks., 2012). By harnessing the power of play as a valuable approach, students can actively participate in experimentation, facilitating more profound learning encounters (Thomas & Brown, 2011, p. 117). Through integrating hands-on activities, collaborative peer-to-peer discussions, and the utilization of technology, my objective is to empower learners to assume ownership of their learning path.
One challenge we will face when shifting our pedagogical approach is the overall resistance to change in education. We should let change challenge and motivate us as we launch forward, but often, educators are stuck with their beliefs (Thomas & Brown, 2011, p. 43). Educators are also bogged down by standardized testing and the required content they must teach; we need more time to allow students to play and imagine. (TEDx Talks., 2012). Creating buy-in will be crucial to motivating educators to change how we approach learning.
By adopting the CSLE process, my organization will benefit significantly by allowing
educators and students to reignite their passions for learning. Educators join the profession with love and care, but often, this fizzles out as standardized testing takes over (TEDx Talks., 2012). When we focus on the environment, we can cultivate an organization that fuels our passion and drives our imagination.
The new ideas will face more challenges and possibly pushback, but I am eager to pursue them. Nevertheless, with dedication and perseverance, the potential for positive change is vast, promising a brighter future for education.
References:
Dwayne Harapnuik. (2015, May 9). Creating significant learning Environments (CSLE) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ-c7rz7eT4
TEDx Talks. (2012, September 13). A New Culture of Learning, Douglas Thomas at TEDxUFM [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM80GXlyX0U
Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change.