Innovative Learning Environments and Teacher Change (ILETC)
A few weeks ago, I wrote to the school community with the aim of rebuking an article in the Sydney Morning Herald (linked here). I know from many educators, this article still infuriates us. But I do not intend to give it more airtime… This week the findings of an enormous amount of research about ‘Innovative Learning Environments and Teacher Change’ (ILETC), has been released. The research from LEaRN (Learning Environments Applied Research Network) was undertaken through the University of Melbourne and funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council. These findings are important because of the substantial body of work including but not limited to:
- 9 PhD dissertations,
- 7 international conferences,
- 3 international think tanks,
- 7 technical reports,
- 30 case studies, and
- the development of a Teacher Transition Pathway.
It is hard to know where to begin to explain the findings about ‘Innovative Learning Environments’ (ILEs), as all are relevant, however for our context, I would like to share a few of the 25 findings.
- There are now 25% of schools in all sectors, across Australia and New Zealand with ILEs.
- There are a number of models of ILEs that fall somewhere in between the polar opposite classroom designs of the traditional classroom to a completely open plan learning space.
- The more flexible the space the more common the desired learning outcomes and teaching practices. In specific terms, traditionally designed classrooms have higher levels of superficial learning and teacher-centred pedagogy.
- Evidence exists that in ILEs teachers are exhibiting the types of teaching that policies are demanding – teaching toward the 4 C’s of collaboration, cooperation, critical thinking and creative thinking.
- There is a statistically significant correlation between the types of teaching and the types of spaces. The more flexible the space the more incidence of quality teaching.
John Hattie (Professor of Education and Director of Melbourne Research Institute) spoke at the launch of these findings and said that prior to this body of evidence there was little evidence of success in ILEs because most of the limited amount of evidence dated back to the 70’s, so this current research is important. He also said that ILEs are not just about the spaces, they are about the teachers’ way of thinking about teaching and learning; they go to the heart of collaboration and through collaboration thinking goes from surface learning to deep learning.
LEaRN has identified areas for ongoing research so that schools like Claremont College can continue using ILEs to prepare today’s students for their future where collaboration, cooperation, critical thinking, and creative thinking are essential. If you would like to learn more about the Final Research Findings, you can find the full report linked here.
(Ref., Imms, W. & Mahat, M. (2022). Innovative Learning Environments and Teacher Change: Final Research Findings, LEaRN, and the University of Melbourne)
I would also like to refer you back to my 2022 parent presentation, What Collaborative Teaching Is and What it is Not, linked here.
As identified in the findings above there is a range of ILEs, they are not a one size fits all, and there are several different ways of referring to these learning spaces. We call them ‘learning spaces’, Melbourne University call them ILEs (Innovative Learning Environments), I have also heard them referred to as ‘hubs’ (Stonefields, Auckland), or ‘homesteads’ (Woodleigh School, Mornington Peninsula), or ‘learning pods’ (Sweden), but whatever they are called we are all referring to more flexible, creative, inviting and welcoming spaces than the classrooms of years gone by.
I am always happy to have a walk and talk with parents, so that you can see our learning spaces in action and see how engaged the students are in their learning, so if this is something that interests you, please do not hesitate to ask.
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:5
Janelle Ford
Co-Principal
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