As I move forward with my practice as an educator, I'm prompted to outline my ideals this morning. What do I long for in a teaching/learning community?
Natural Beauty
I believe that the best land should be set aside for teaching/learning communities. I imagine schools embedded in landscapes that have onsite gardens, courtyards, play areas, trees, and vistas. Recently I visited Amherst College and I was struck by the courtyard's perfect location with a beautiful, inspiring view. As we revise and remake schools, this should be a priority.
Architectural Beauty
Well designed spaces inspire. I don't think we put enough emphasis on the impact that wonderful architectural design has on individuals' ability to live with peace, harmony, depth, and fulfillment. We too quickly build structures that are uninspiring. Let's slow down and take the time to design and build spaces big and small that truly invite the best of what we can be.
Environmentally Safe
Clean water, safe products, wide sidewalks for walking and biking, streamlined infrastructures, solar energy, and more make our learning environments environmentally friendly. Teach children and educators about what works with regard to environmental protection and model that in the schools you build or renovate.
Students-First
In all decisions, the first consideration should be students as our learning environments should be centered on what they need. Consider students first and enlist their voices in all decisions.
Community Focused
Include all learning community members in primary decisions. Consider the learning community to include students, family members, educators, leaders, and interested citizens. Invite all to participate in main decisions using streamlined, effective, transparent, and well communicated decision making processes. Ensure that processes reach out to the underserved community members as well--find out how to best reach these individuals, and seek out their voices and participation.
Visible Values
Create values together as a learning community and make those values visible so that all who enter the learning center know what the values are. Assess and revise values as needed to best meet the needs of all, particularly the students, in the learning community.
Lead Time and Timelines
Embed effective lead time and timelines into all system-wide planning and decision making. Eliminate as much as possible rushed, last minute decision making and process. Giving decisions and efforts, large and small, the time they deserve will result in thoughtful, valued effect.
Communication
Create communication processes that are inclusive, transparent, comprehensive, and timely. Conjecture reigns when communication is sparse, selective, and incomplete. Work with the learning community to create communication patterns that both streamline and deepen communication so that all members of the learning community are aware of all, but the most private, information related to the organization. Communicate the communication patterns well. Keep communication up-to-date and accessible 24-7, and have useful vehicles for idea, question, and comment expression and exchange. I believe that communication is a central issue of our times, and dynamic learning organizations can lead the way with respect to effective communication patterns, protocols, and process.
Roles, Respect, and Voice
Update roles for the new age of learning and teaching we're in. Rid systems of old time factory models and mindsets, and look for ways to revise roles and make that revision inclusive and explicit. New roles should empower all members of the learning community so that their voices and good work are welcome, coached, and developed. Effective learning communities should look for ways to promote autonomy, mastery, and purpose (Drive by Pink) for all within their organizations.
Adequate, Timely Tools and Materials
No learning community today should be without the best tools and materials for learning. First and foremost that means up-to-date infrastructure and technology for all learners and teachers. Second, learning communities need to rethink the furniture they use in schools. Old time furniture sends an old time message about what it means to be a learner. Taking the lead from today's most successful learning and design organizations, systems need to embrace the kinds of furniture that free learners from the uncomfortable factory model of learning. There are multiple other new and old materials and tools that promote apt learning, and there needs to be systems in place that recycle outdated materials and tools and acquire new and traditional tools and materials that make a difference for student learning.
Maximizing Individual and Community Contribution
Systems can maximize individual contribution by looking both within and outside of their learning communities for support. For example, older students can have a substantial impact on younger students. By mandating that every high school student commit one course of study during their high school days that takes place in an elementary school classroom could have a substantial affect on both the high school student and the elementary school students if planned well. Further outreach to retired community members and families for help in schools, particularly with young students or outlier students, can have substantial affect. These programs require leadership, training, and regular care and attention, and with that oversight, the programs have tremendous potential for improving schools. Further, coordination with local organizations, colleges, and universities also hold tremendous promise for student learning and efforts. Developing schools outward to the community is an important step for broadening and deepening what the learning community can do.
After School Programs, Summer Camps, and Community Education
To respond to the family work schedules, many school organizations have embraced after school programs and community education. This is a good way to build in the longer school day and year for working families as it provides a type of education that is different than the typical school day, and perhaps a type of education that more easily innovates and tries out new ideas for the education of students, families, and community members.
These are my initial ideas about growing and developing learning communities. What would you add? As I think about the learning community I work in and contribute to, I recognize that most of these attributes are strongly embedded into the regular teaching and learning routines. That's commendable and the reason why so many educators stay in our district for their entire careers and why families choose to live in our district.
Schools, or learning communities, today hold great promise for our children, communities, country, and world if given the conditions for excellence they require. I continue to be optimistic about education today, and will continue to work towards and contribute to the elements above. I welcome your thoughts and ideas in this regard.
Additions
Global and Multicultural Literacy
David E Garcia prompted me to add this very important aspect to the ideal schools today. There are multiple ways to add this to your learning community. I want to think about how I'll add this to next year's science and math curriculum, my main teaching focus for the year ahead. Thanks David.
Empowering, Engaging Learning Design and Delivery
Learning Design Guide
Learning to Learn Lessons
