EDFD459 Article 6: classroom and beyond

Classroom and Beyond

Biddick writes that a crucial part of teaching is developing a range of different classroom environments and spaces that promote and encourage new ways of learning (2014). Part of this requires having a good understanding of how different students learn and create spaces that utilise their learning. Teachers can gain this understanding through Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences that considers that each student may learn in an individual way and as teachers we need to foster and reinforce this learning by creating environments for all students to learn in (Gardner, 1979, as cited in Armstrong, 2018).

Figure 1: Multiple Intelligences (Dimick, 2016).

Within a classroom, there are different spaces that can be created. They include:

1. Outdoor spaces (Mereweather, 2015):

- Nationally mandated in Australian teaching pedagogies.

- Can include play spaces, kitchen garden programs and outdoor classrooms

- Potential downfalls: weather dependent, expensive to facilitate

2. Flexible spaces (Neill and Etheridge, 2008):

- Learning spaces that can be easily moved and adapted.

- Students can travel through different spaces throughout the lesson

- Often included a quiet space, literacy space, numeracy space.

- Potential downfalls: classroom management, lack of structure

3. Open-planned spaces (Biddick, 2014):

- Extended the four walls of a classroom. Can be open planned schools.

- Collaborative spaces with other classrooms

- Potential downfalls: classroom noise levels, classroom management.

Figure 2: Different types of classroom spaces

Pros and cons of learning beyond the classroom:

References:

Armstrong, T. (2018). Multiple intelligences in the classroom (Fourth edition.). ASCD. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/acu/detail.action?docID=5154000.

Biddick, N. (2014). Working in Open Plan Learning Spaces. Teacher Learning Network Newsletter, Exploring Classroom Management, 21(1), 23-25. https://ezproxy-acu-edu-au.ezproxy2.acu.edu.au/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&AN=112668503&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Dimick, P. (2016). Exploring How Technology Caters to Your Students’ 8 “Multiple Intelligences”. https://www.emergingedtech.com/2016/02/technology-caters-to-students-multiple-intelligences/

Mereweather, J. (2015). Young Children’s Perspectives of Outdoor Learning Spaces. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood,40(1), 99-108. https://search-informit-org.ezproxy2.acu.edu.au/doi/epdf/10.3316/informit.975222265851876

Neill, S., & Etheridge, R. (2008). Flexible learning spaces: The integration of pedagogy, physical design, and instructional technology.Marketing education review,18(1), 47-53.https://doi.org/10.1080/10528008.2008.11489024