Ask for Advice

Well, we need different kinds of environments, we need different kinds of spaces for different kinds of learning and a school doesn’t have to be the place you go for learning necessarily, it could be a certain type of learning. You need places where you can work alone, where you can collaborate and share what you do. In a school, if there’s a forest around it, that would be great, but it’s no use if you don’t use it. When we’re designing a school and talking about the physical space of the school, the environment of it, that should reflect what it is we want to do, what we want to achieve. Are we going to set it up for creativity? Or do we want to focus on memorization? Do we want to focus on collaboration, so we build spaces for that, or do we want isolation and competition? Do we want technology or not? Do we want communication between learners or do we want that transfer of knowledge from one person to the group. So we have to design our physical spaces with our need and the future in mind and have the workspaces be student centred. We need to collaborate and there’s two ways most classrooms are isolated. They can have closed doors, the drapes are shut and nobody gets in or out until the class is over, the learning is constrained within those four walls. It can also be isolated from the outside, be it the internet, the knowledge out there and the experts from the outside. I think the best environments, the best schools, use technology in a way in which it’s almost invisible – it’s just a tool, it’s not the focus. I think a great environment in schools should be encouraging for students to create and collaborate, think critically and creatively and we should build the curriculum for that, help students do that. There are children suffering because of testing and because of the immense testing we are seeing and it’s happening all over and there’s less joy and there’s less engagement. We see that in schools and we’ve seen the curriculum begin to narrow and I say if Iceland, my home country, ever reached the top of PISA we’ve failed our students. Stephen Mintz, for instance, he mentions in his book, The Prime of Life, he says by almost every measure kids are better off today; crime rates are down, smoking is down, grades are up, graduation rates are up, they are up by almost every measure except the ones that really matter – so we have depression starting at a much lower age, we have kids showing signs of stress, debilitating stress, children showing signs of trouble with interpersonal relationships and suicide rates are up. So, basically he says in his book you can be better off in the ways we can easily count and still be worse off in the ways that truly matter. So I think we need to create an environment in schools that allow kids to flourish and create and be their natural self.

An effective learning environment is one that is engaging, supportive, and tailored to the needs and preferences of the learners. Here are some factors that can contribute to an exciting and effective learning environment: 1. **Personalization**: Learners have different needs and preferences, so an effective learning environment should be able to adapt to the individual needs of each learner. This can be achieved through personalized learning paths, content recommendations, and tailored feedback. 2. **Active Learning**: Rather than just passively consuming information, learners should be actively engaged in the learning process. This can be done through interactive activities, group discussions, and project-based learning. 3. **Feedback and Assessment**: Learners need feedback to understand how they are progressing and where they need to improve. An effective learning environment should provide regular feedback and assessments to help learners stay on track and monitor their progress. 4. **Support**: Learners should have access to resources and support that can help them overcome challenges and stay motivated. This can include online forums, peer-to-peer support, and access to subject matter experts. 5. **Flexibility**: An effective learning environment should be flexible and accessible, allowing learners to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule. This can be achieved through online learning platforms, mobile apps, and other digital tools. Ultimately, an effective learning environment should be designed to meet the needs of learners and provide them with the tools and resources they need to achieve their learning goals.