Nelyda Rodriguez
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New Culture
of Learning
It is time to change our way of thinking from the old teaching model to a new learning model. Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). We live in a world where innovation and change constantly impact education. For years, we have seen how education has changed, incorporating new methods of instruction and learning as it continues to adapt to the latest digital world. Education needs new teaching ideas to create a good learning environment, and creating a meaningful learning environment is critical to the success of our students.
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Thomas & John Seely Brown, 2011, pp. 578-654. The New Culture of Learning has three key features. First, classrooms are considered learning environments that utilize digital media to provide access to information and games. Second, the focus is on learning through active participation in the world rather than passively absorbing information. Lastly, the culture values accepting what we do not know and asking questions to deepen our understanding.
The ultimate goal is for individuals to embrace and integrate the world into their lives. In light of the quote mentioned above, and in line with my personal experience, adopting a new learning culture is crucial for the success of our project, which I will integrate into my Innovation Plan. As learning environments constantly evolve, achieving real change in schools and homes is essential. To achieve this, my Innovation Plan focuses on diversity, incorporates technology with Blended Learning, utilizes digital media to access technology, and has evolved into a collaborative medium constantly shaped by participation. Today, students are no longer confined to their desks and are encouraged to interact and engage in playful activities. Technological tools are now available to help children learn more enjoyably and engagingly. For example, my pre-kindergarten students can use ClassLink with Seesaw, Starfall, Istation, and YouTube applications, which are valuable tools for their work.
As children navigate a fast-changing world, they rely on play and imagination to make sense of it. New people, places, things, and ideas can overwhelm them with information, but children can adjust and learn effectively through play and imagination. Moreover, play is an excellent way to promote hands-on activities, which can help develop mathematical skills and achieve pre-kindergarten program goals.
¡Never stop for a
Challenge!
"Change motivates and challenges. It makes clear when things are obsolete or have outlived their usefulness. But most of all, change forces us to learn differently".
(Thomas & John Seely Brown, 2011, p.456).
As with any change, teaching young children comes with challenges. My students are only four and five years old, which means they have a limited understanding of the world around them. My biggest challenge is motivating both children and their parents to prioritize education. My students' parents are also part of a new generation with different beliefs, values, and preferences. It is essential to recognize that children and their parents are part of a transformational generation.
Obtaining all the necessary educational materials and resources can be a significant challenge. Sometimes, the district needs all the resources required for all children, such as iPads, headphones, and play materials, which can prevent me from achieving my goals. I have faced discouraging experiences due to a lack of budget; unfortunately, I cannot always obtain the required materials from my pocket, so I have to search, investigate, and knock on many doors to get these resources with my colleagues and the administrative field.
Dr. Harapnik's (2015) video emphasizes a student-centered approach to deep learning. Consider curriculum, pedagogy, communication needs, and learning styles. Integrate these aspects into teaching using innovative techniques for effective learning. My community has suitable learning environments. However, incorporating more educational technology through Blended Learning can further improve the quality of education. As the quote above suggests, integrating digital resources into these learning environments will positively impact my preschool community, including parents and colleagues. My students must receive the best education possible, and my project can be expanded to meet each class's group and individual needs. By applying innovative teaching practices in mathematics, writing, language, social and emotional intelligence and fostering positive relationships with the student's immediate environment, we can meet the needs of our students more effectively. To support my point, I have included a quote from Thomas' book, which mentions the following information:
"We believe, however, that learning should be viewed in terms of an environment—combined with the rich resources provided by the digital information network—where the context in which learning happens, the boundaries that define it, and the students, teachers, and information within it all coexist and shape each other in a mutually reinforcing way." (Thomas & John Seely Brown, 2011, p. 333).
Learning
Environments:
All of us are fighting together for the greater good.
Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011) Talk about seeing the future as a realm of new opportunities rather than something that forces us to adapt, which requires embracing change and living life to the fullest in a constantly evolving world. I will ask myself: Can we persuade others to think like we do? It is impossible since each individual sees themselves as distinctive and irreplaceable. Therefore, we all have different perspectives. However, we can unite our team with the same objectives and values, adapt to situations, and take advantage of opportunities to change and accept things as they come. While there may be different paths and shortcuts to reach our goals, achieving them is crucial. It is not about manipulating the thoughts of individuals but rather about raising awareness that, as teachers, our work shapes people. We have a great responsibility to educate children so that they have bright futures. For this reason, we must defend professional ethics and work as a team, always taking advantage of new opportunities.
To get our colleagues to share our ideals and have real change, it is essential to demonstrate that our proposal works and that the results are favorable, not force the teamwork to adjust but share the achievements; we can speak from the heart, taking into account the feelings of the entire team, also counts a lot, especially in daily work reactions. Doing so allows us to share many ideas and knowledge, enhance the teaching project, achieve lasting changes, and reach our entire community.
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Organizational Impact
I am convinced that creating a meaningful learning environment will contribute to student success by giving them the tools to embrace change. In other words, in the traditional view of teaching, information is transferred from one person (the teacher) to another (the student). At this point, the impact I hope to have is not just for teachers, school staff, or students but even in communities where my voice can be heard. I will always be willing to take risks to make a difference and help those children who cannot help themselves. Teachers have the power to influence and inspire our young people, and they can create and innovate.
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Influence and Perspective
I can influence others by modeling what I am doing in my classroom and show them how it is giving me results. I believe teachers have the power to do wonders by practicing the learning environment elements. Being consistent is very important for the students to be able to create routines. From the beginning of this process it has to be successful to be able to influence more students and teachers. Share in my organization and explain to them the importance of the New Culture of Learning.
If I can show that something not only works but is worth trying based on research, more people around me will adopt my ideas. I think that my perspective has broadly been about introducing and effecting change within my organization, it has influenced my philosophy on learning and the actions I feel are necessary to be successful in my goals.
for life
Learning
Throughout life, we explore certain situations that teach us to learn and grow daily. In negative and positive situations, we can learn to grow and that despite life's challenges, we always present opportunities. In adverse situations, it makes us doubt our abilities, and we stop, but I always have a saying: better late than never. Therefore, despite the challenges, I decided to study for my master's degree to continue achieving the goals I had had in mind for years but could not reach due to family and economic situations. I am very proud of myself for this experience, which has taught me to improve my teaching practices. These learnings will remain with me forever because with all the information I learn daily in my master's degree and training in my classroom, I know they will benefit my students, colleagues, and everyone around me. Continuing to research is not just a fleeting moment in my life; it is here to stay and brings many benefits to me, my school community, and, most importantly, my students.
References
Burke, A., & Burke, A. (2012). Harnessing the power of web-based technologies in construction education. https://core.ac.uk/download/161122057.pdf
Harapnuik, D. (2015, May 9). Creating significant learning environments (CSLE) [Video]. YouTube, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ-c7rz7eT4
Learning for Life. (2023, April 3). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_for_Life
TEDxTalks. (2012, September 12). A new culture of learning [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM80GXlyX0U.
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Thomas, D., & John Seely Brown, 2011, p. 333-456. A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change. In Amazon (1st edition). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. New-Culture-Learning-Cultivating-Imagination/dp/1456458884