Last year, ICS implemented the first phase of its Dynamic Learning Initiative: Environment. It is said that every classroom has three teachers - the teacher, other students and the room. Classrooms must be structured in a way that promotes engagement. Time spent actively engaged leads to learning gains. Learning gains brings knowledge. Knowledge brings power.
ICS classrooms are powerful. They are dynamic.
This approach entailed the following research based components:
Flexible / Mobile Seating
*students shouldn't feel trapped in a desk and sitting still shouldn't be a goal in and of itself
360° Classrooms
*education shouldn't be limited to a notebook; space within the classroom should be maximized for student usage
Differentiated Instruction
*time-on-task is most conducive to learning gains when it is appropriately challenging for each student
Student Autonomy
*one of the best strategies for engaged learning is offering choice; this also leads to greater self-awareness and meta-cognitionThis new equipment ushered in not only a change in where students were learning but it also changed the way in which the learning process was occurring across the ICS campus.
Almost organically (albeit, purposefully), instructional design started to reimagine areas of the classroom for various purposes. Seating arrangements within classrooms changed to meet the instructional needs of the lesson. Rows morphed into clusters. Instruction shifted from whole class to small groups and individuals. Technology blended into daily courses as one of a handful of centers of learning for students. As such, students participated in the content and skills in highly engaged ways.
In short, the learning became interactive. It became dynamic.
As we continue to build this vision for education into a reality at Incarnation Catholic School, the next phase of the ICS Dynamic Learning Initiative focuses on using the Environment to foster Interactive Classrooms.
Founded on the concept of deliberate practice (K. Anders Ericsson) and based on the instructional approach "Daily 5", these Interactive Classrooms strive for small group and even individualized instruction so that each student can interact with teachers in developmentally challenging ways. Learning targets and pathways become based on the needs of each student. Standards-based assessment and feedback is geared toward the progress of the student. Students have autonomy and choice. They take responsibility for and ownership of their learning. They work collaboratively and creatively. Students produce, create, publish, present, analyze, synthesize, defend - they learn.
As humans, God hardwired us to detect patterns, to search for solutions, to seek out and conquer challenges. He created us to constantly grow, develop, improve, innovate, enhance and advance.
We were made to learn.
And with hard work and the right approaches, we can and will learn anything.
Resources:
http://projects.ict.usc.edu/itw/gel/EricssonDeliberatePracticePR93.PDF
https://www.thedailycafe.com/daily-5
http://educationnorthwest.org/sites/default/files/EducationalTimeFactors.pdf
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED192454.pdf
http://www.marzanocenter.com/files/Teaching-for-Rigor-20140318.pdf
http://thethirdteacherplus.com
