Learning Environment approach and Network Building in Education
Dr. Jyri ManninenProfessor, Director of ResearchUniversity of Helsinki & University of Joensuu, Finland
Promoting Innovation and Creativity: Schools' Response to the Challenges of Future SocietiesWorkshop 1: Partnership and networking for creativity and innovation
Key message
maintain individualistic work practices in schools, and discourages networking with
wider society.
encourage team work practices in schools, and require networking and cooperation with wider
society.
Manninen, J., Burman, A., Koivunen, A., Kuittinen, E., Luukannel, S., Passi, S. & Särkkä, H. 2007. Environments that support learning. Introduction to Learning Environments approach. Helsinki: National Board of Education
Traditional curriculum based approach(David Istance: standard/traditional models of schooling)
Modern Learning Environment approach(David Istance: modern, innovative directions of schooling)
Use of term ”Learning environment”
1. ”Learning environment” as a pedagogical model guiding the planning of teaching and education
2. ”Learning environment” as a way of thinking
3. ”Learning environment” as a fashionable term
”New learning environment”, ”Open…”, ”Digital…”
Differences
Curriculum approach teacher directed focus on teaching curriculum based delivery of
information
individualistic work practices (teacher + class)
school as a ”closed” organisation
working alone
Learning Environment approach
collaborative focus on learning problem based construction of knowledge
team work practices (team of teachers & partners)
interaction with school and society
networking
Case: Helsinki Museum of technology as part of a learning path
own tailormade project based learning paths for schools
for example ”Amazing innovations” theme
preparatory work at
school museum visit
(learning tasks, games,
collaborative work)
conclusions, sharing of
knowledge
Case: Helsinki Museum of technology as part of a learning path (2)
Learning paths planned in cooperation with various actors:
teachers museum specialist museum pedagogy
specialist representatives
from business &
industry university
department
Network / Planning team
Schools* teachers
University* researcher
Museum of technology* museum specialist* museum pedagogy
specialist
Business & industry* designers
BACKGROUND:Five perspectives on Learning Environments
Manninen, J., Burman, A., Koivunen, A., Kuittinen, E., Luukannel, S., Passi, S. & Särkkä, H. 2007. Environments that support learning. Introduction to Learning Environments approach. Helsinki: National Board of Education
Why Learning Environment approach is a relevant theme?
Why new book on Learning Environments is needed?
What is the (new?) message?
Some definitions…
“The learning environment refers to the entirety of the learningrelated physical environment, psychological factors and social relationships. In this setting study and learning take place.”
(Finnish National Core Curriculum for Basic Education 2004, p. 16).
"A learning environment is a place or community where people can draw upon resources to make sense out of things and construct meaningful solutions to problems"
Wilson, B. (ed.) (1996) Constructivist Learning Environments: Case
Studies in Instructional Design. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational
Technology Publications.
Istraditional
teacher centred
classroom a learning
environment?
Traditional Teaching – Studying – Learning –process (Uljens 1997)
Teaching
Studying
Learning
Learning process in a web-based learning environment
Guidance
Studying
Learning
Mate-rials
Other students
Why new book on Learning Environments is needed?
Learning Environment is a central and commonly used, but very fuzzy concept
concrete definitions needed to clarify discussion
LE metaphor commonly used as framework for development work
deeper understanding about the nature of Learning Environments is needed
Why new book on Learning Environments is needed?
Literature on Learning Environments is widely available but fragmented, focusing on single narrow themes
comprehensive analysis of the whole phenomena is needed
Literature also fragmented according to age of the learners, school level and formal – informal –dimension
comprehensive approach covering all ages from pre-school to adult learners
Why new book on Learning Environments is needed?
LE have different meanings for different people (eg. architect ~ “a building”, ICT-teacher ~ “Web based learning environment”)
common language and understanding of different meanings is needed
helps to discuss over “language barriers”
Theoretical background of LE’s is seldom discussed, or simply linked to constructivism
a deeper analysis of learning theories behind learning environments is needed
Didactic
SocialPhysical
TechnicalLocal
Web?Museum?
Group?Building?
Five perspectives on Learning Environments
Physical LE as a space and a building architecture or space planning/design
Social LE as human interaction social psychology, group Processes and communication
Technological LE based on educational use of ICT’s Information ciences
Local LE as places and areas outside school, such as ‘the real world’,
places of work, the countryside, the city Museum pedagogy, Outdoor pedagogy, Learning Organizations
Didactic LE as an environment that supports learning didactic and pedagogic models
