The Little Inquiry That Could

Next week is June first. I can't believe it, but it is that time of year. June is a time for endings and beginnings, grief and excitement. For me, it is a time of reflection. A time to look back at the work we have done and the impact it has had. 

This year, nothing has given me more gratification than the transforming learning spaces inquiry. It has been a privilege to work with incredible educators who have pushed themselves out of their comfort zones to meet the learning needs of their students. This was a true inquiry, we didn't really know how it was going to go. We certainly had no idea the spread it would have. We started with a small group of teachers and it organically grew to touch schools in all areas of our Board. It has become a constant conversation and starting point for many other inquiries. Educators are seeing the connections between transforming their spaces and it's connection to STEAM, Inquiry and play based learning. When space is transformed so is the learning. We have heard from students and staff that changing the space has created an environment that has allowed students to make decisions. They need to think about the working space that works best for them. 
Moving to community space rather than individually held real estate has fostered collaboration, a sense of team and empathy.

Mrs. Sweeney's Door!

We are also seeing that having a variety of spaces is having an impact on movement. Students are moving and being active in their learning significantly more than they were with traditional desks and chairs. We know this is important, "Amazingly, the part of the brain that processes movement is the same part of the brain that processes learning" (Jensen, 2005) For more information on the movement/brain connection, check out this link; Teaching with the Brain in Mind, Eric Jensen. We are seeing students who are now motivated to come to school and engage in learning in ways they never have before. 

We have learned a great deal about the importance of physical space on student learning over the last few months but this is just the beginning. We are encouraged by what we are hearing from the participants of this inquiry. We have also been inspired by spaces in Private Industry. Tyger Shark digital media welcomed us into their thoughtfully considered space in downtown Barrie. They have designed their space to foster creativity and collaboration. Between their space and their message of, "we need people who are hungry to constantly learn" we felt inspired and affirmed in our work. 
This work is challenging and there are often more questions than answers but when I walk into a transformed space and feel the learning, I know it is worth it. 

This year, I feel like June is only a launching pad for the incredible learning and work to come. The little inquiry that could is no longer little and it will only continue to gain momentum. I couldn't be more proud to part of this team that is changing learning environments for the better.

Stand up desks student feedback

Personally I think that the stand up desks benefit me. I am a very restless person and get anxious quickly so sometimes I need to take a quick walk before I can focus on my work. With the stand up desks I am able to get up whenever I feel I need a break without having to walk to the front of the class to ask the teacher if I can go to the washroom. Lately I have been moving spots back and forth and walking around my group which eliminated my need to leave the class and it also helped my thinking. When I move around I tend to come up with better ideas and they come to me easier. These desks not only benefit my learning by helping me focus but they are a healthy solution as well. Sitting increases health risks and when we are at school we are sitting for 90% of our day. These desks change things, we are allowed to move around and in gage in exercise without even thinking about it. Therefore in my opinion stand up desks are very beneficial to me and I think it could be to many others.

personally I love these stand up desks. I have always had an issue with getting restless in class and I had always wished that there was a way I could get rid of my restlessness without going for a walk and missing something in class. So now that there is an opportunity for me to stand up whenever I want, it helps me to learn better because then I am able to focus.

Stand up desks I think stand up desks are efficient, I like how you are able to stand up whenever you want and it helps me focus. They also allow you to move around and get active instead of sitting in a small desk for 75minutes, it helps the mind think. I think the desks should be bigger so there is more space for books or less people at a desk. Overall, I think stand up desks are really good and I think more classrooms should have them.

Stand Up Desks I enjoy the standup desks because sometimes, especially in the morning, it's really hard to focus and stay awake, so when I'm able to stand up and move around a bit, it wakes me up and I can stay on topic. Also, I like working in groups because it helps me to get more work done. In other classes, if I'm working by myself and don't know the answer, or I get stuck on a question, I have no one to ask for help. But in these groups, odds are 1 of the 5 people I'm sitting with can help me out. Also, working in groups can benefit me if I have to research different topics. The group members can give me ideas and opinions to help me get on the right track. Also, I can help other people with their projects with throughs and ideas which helps to boost my confidence in myself and my ideas.

Grade 5-6 Ferndale Woods ES

Transforming our space (note  the deliberate use of the word "our") was a collaborative activity that took most of the instructional day. It was an eye-opening experience for both the students and me. For me, I had to be willing to let go of my perception of what a classroom should be and for the students, they had to accept that the space was theirs, not the teachers and that their ideas and opinions matter. In the end, we had a space that felt like it belonged to everyone, not just the teacher who designed it according to his needs or specifications.

We love the open space, collaborative opportunities and freedom to work where we feel comfortable

The journey begins!

Transformations are underway in classrooms around Simcoe County! Here are a few snapshots of spaces that are being revamped!

Time to Transform!

We have the opportunity to transform a learning space at our Ed Center! We'd love to hear your voice about what you need in a learning environment. Please add your thoughts to the padlet embedded in the right hand column of our bog!

The Journey Begins

On November 26th, Our team had the opportunity to facilitate a learning session about transforming learning spaces. I have taken some time to reflect on the learning of that day and the ripples that learning began. 

As soon as educators started entering the room at The Innisfil Public Library, you could feel the excitement in the air. There were small conversations happening everywhere about the beauty and inspiration of the space we were in. The space itself immediately let the learners know that they were welcome and valued and they were encouraged to meet their own individual learning needs by choosing how they were going to learn. There were tables and chairs, comfortable modular furniture, standing areas and a creative space on the floor in the middle of the room. It was fascinating to watch the spaces people gravitated to. Initially, people stuck to the familiar by choosing the tables and chairs, no one choose the center creative space! Over the course of the day that began to evolve, as participants intentionally thought about what they need to learn best, they began to move. Suddenly there were more people standing, more people had migrated to the modular furniture and we had a groups of people sitting on the floor in the center making buttons! This evolution represents what was so exciting about the learning of this day. It was all about the needs of the learner. 

The educators continuously kept the needs of their students at the center of the conversation. The conversation was not about 'the stuff', it was always about how do we best support the learning needs of our students. 

The afternoon was a time for play, exploration and self directed learning. It was inspiring to pop into conversations where educators were embracing the ideas of exploration, pushing themselves and supporting each other! 

Educators, left that day and shared the spark with their home school communities. More and more teachers are asking to be involved. The ripple continues to grow. 

To see what happened that day check out this video.