The Problem Space The Year 5 learning space has undergone some significant changes this year. Originally 3 separate classrooms, the teachers of these classes decided to remove the walls between the rooms in an attempt to enable a new pedagogic approach. The classrooms were separated by solid wall partitions on tracks that locked together to create a wall. In previous years, these partitions remained closed. The teachers wanted to develop a more flexible learning space and facilitate team teaching models and enable new types of learning.
Observations The lesson observed began with all students gathered for approximately 10 minutes of direct instruction. They then broke off into different groupings to work with particular teachers or independently. The teachers later explained their desire to keep explicit instruction included in their approach. This style of teaching is of notable importance according to Hattie (2012). During the observation, noise level was initially noted. With so many children occupying the one open space, all sounds and voices compounded. The start of the lesson also presented volume challenges. With all students gathered and a single teacher giving the instructions, it was unclear if all students could see or hear the teacher. During the main part of the lesson, all three teachers instructing their groups could be heard at different times. The lack of space in general appeared to cause issue and was a second point of note. A number of students worked on the floor or other soft furnishing while the students in groups with teachers made use of the larger desks in front of the boards, the location of which ultimately dictated this layout. The 3 classes occupying the space presented almost 90 students in total. The space felt very full. Ensuring every student had a place to be productive seemed like a challenge as several of the seating arrangements didn’t seem suitable for extended periods of time.
Some of the furniture in the middle classroom could be removed so that all students can fit and see during times when all 3 classes are together for direct instruction. A teacher microphone that plugs into the classroom AV system might also help students hear instruction during this time. It appeared that all 3 classrooms were trying to suit every purpose – from whole class teaching, to group work and individual work. Perhaps separating the roles of the 3 spaces might help them achieve what the teachers are hoping, using 1 whole classroom for the group instruction and using the other 2 spaces for groups and individual work. As stated by Razzouk (2012) design is an iterative process, solutions may be modified or new solutions may be developed until an optimal solution is found. This could be a second iteration of a possible solution. There was an impression that there were a lot of unknowns about what the desired result really looks like. As Eris' (2004) definition of "the brief" explains, “we don’t know what we don’t know” and would like the design process to unearth that. It is possible that as the teachers continue to work in this space, they will learn more about what they are looking for. This "fuzzy" problem (Melles, 2010) has the opportunity for unexpected solutions.
References Eris, O. (2004). Effective inquiry for innovative engineering design. Springer Publications Hattie, J. & Yates G. C. R. (2013). Visible learning and the science of how we learn. Routledge. Melles, G. (2010). Curriculum design thinking: a new name for old ways of thinking and practice? Sydney: Proceedings of the DTRS8 Conference 299-308. Razzouk, R., Shute, V. (2012). What is design thinking and why is it important? Review of Educational Research, September, 82 (3), 330–348
4 Comments
Hi Laura,
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Amanda Wood
10/8/2019 09:33:46 pm
Hi Laura,
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June Wall
14/8/2019 11:52:13 am
Thanks Laura, a great description and suggested solutions. Have you spoken with the teachers? I'd be interested to know if they considered how they would be teaching and facilitating learning before they opened the space up? Some of the issues are not just about space but about pedagogical practices that needed to be discussed. Some simple actions or procedural changes on their part could have sorted some of this out. Eg as explicit teaching is important to them, did they consider 1 teacher in front of 90 children with the other 2 supporting?
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Lisette Robey
14/8/2019 03:08:38 pm
Hi Laura,
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About me:Hello, my name is Laura. I am currently studying my Masters of Education, specialising in Information Technologies. I work as the Head of Digital Learning and Innovation at an independent school in Queensland. I invite you to connect with me on social media via the links below. Archives
October 2019
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