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What is this project about?
The OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation is studying Innovative Learning Environments.
The OECD recognises that an innovative learning environment is distinctive because of a particular approach to pedagogy, curriculum, teaching or assessment; they might address learners who conventionally do not succeed; they might make distinctive uses of space or technology for learning.
The New Zealand Learning Discovery Trust, the University of Canterbury’s College of Education and the Cognition Institute have agreed to collaborate to provide a report on innovative learning environments to the OECD by December 2010.
Who is involved?
The New Zealand Learning Discovery Trust schools - Discovery1 for Years 1 to Year 8 students, and Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti for Years 9 to 13 students - provide the context for New Zealand’s case study. Both are special character state schools, with a shared philosophy about innovation and creativity within a discovery learning framework http://www.discovery1.school.nz/home-discovery1-school.html.
All key stakeholders (children, parents and staff) take an active part in the creation of a child’s learning journey.
Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti aims to provide an innovative learning environment where students are central to their learning and are supported to develop and follow their own learning journeys. The school’s special character is expressed in ten tenets that relate to learning and to relationships. http://unlimited.school.nz/experience-index.htm
The University of Canterbury’s College of Education provides the academic research capability to support the report on the Discovery Trust schools, according to the OECD’s standards. The Cognition Institute provides project support and funding to deliver this report and explore possibilities for other schools.
Why is the Cognition Institute interested in this activity?
Participants at last year’s symposium advised the Institute to focus on the sorts of skills and competencies the teaching profession will need in order to make students successful in the 21st century learning environment. The Innovative Learning Environments project is exploring pedagogy, space and technology in new ways that can inform thinking about the roles and professional learning of teachers.
The photo shows (left to right): OECD consultant Tony Mackay; Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti student, Tim Mackay; NZ Learning Discovery Trustee, Vicki Buck; Associate Professor Lindsey Conner from the University of Canterbury; Cognition Institute Principal Consultant, Nicola Meek; NZ Learning Discovery Trustee, Paul Bradley; and OECD Project Director for the Innovative Learning Environments project, David Istance.
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