Personal Learning Space
The personal learning space is an individuals’ own space where they are learning. This can be at home, in the classroom or anywhere where they have their own personal space, even online. The personal learning space is built on self-direction, self-efficacy, self-reflection and personal needs. It is important that this space is personalised for the students (Blackmore et al 2010). “Pedagogy and personalisation are at the heart of the innovation”, the flexible spaces offer a concrete expression of individuals learning environments, “unique environments which have attracted widespread interest and support a renewed pedagogical approach.” (Blackmore et al 2011 page 25).
For Teachers
Strengths:
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Allows teachers to develop good personal relationships with students (Blackmore et al 2010).
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Get to know students individually and how they learn.
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Can cater learning to fit the personal learning needs from knowledge of how they learn best in their personal learning space.
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Classroom can be set up to meet the personal needs as well as project-based work (Blackmore et al 2010).
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“Facilitate teachers as coaches and advisers able to diagnose student learning characteristics as well as to a school culture of collegiality, flexible scheduling and pacing” (Blackmore et al 2010).
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Allows for differentiation and assessing that is more equal for all students.
Challenges:
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Teacher privacy in the classroom – setting up a personalised desk often means lack of privacy from students and/or staff.
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Each learners’ space can take up at lot time and space.
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Not suited to prepare students for the intense standardised testing (Blackmore et al 2011).
How can we address these challenges?
Try not to make your desk too personal if you are worried about privacy. If you arn't worried about privacy still be aware of the professional standards and be wary of where the limits are.
Get students and parents to work together with you to create these spaces. Do not try and take it all on yourself, your school community should support you.
We cannot take away NAPLAN so just plan ahead, maybe incorperate some desk work in the classroom everyday to prepare them for the test rules and environment.
For Students
Strengths:
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Develops social inclusion between students by seeing their own and others personal learning spaces (Blackmore et al 2010).
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Gives freedom of movement allowing students to learn how they learn best. For example some students who cannot sit still at a desk might be standing at a high desk while working. Children who prefer to work individually and quietly can move into quiet corners of the classroom to work.
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Learner focused.
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Sensitive to the individual and group differences.
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The individual takes initiative over their own learning.
Challenges
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If personalised learning spaces are set up in the classroom there is the problem of privacy between students. (Blackmore et al 2010).
How can we address these challenges?
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Encourage students to respect each other and their privacy. Establish the rule that everyone is entitled to their own space and they control their own spaces, not other students'.
Examples to get you started on your space
What is Personalized Learning?
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Find out how your students do work at home and observe how they move and interact in class.
Ask them how they like to do and learn - reading, moving, quietly, loudly, orally.
Start with an open concept and move to personalise the space from there.
References:
Blackmore, J., Bateman, D., Loughlin, J., O’Mara, J. & Aranda, G. (2010). The connection between learning spaces and student learning outcomes: a literature review. Melbourne: Department for Education and Early Childhood Development.
Blackmore, J., Bateman, D. Anne, C. Dixon, M. Loughlin, J. O’Mara, J. Senior, K. (2011) Innovative Learning Environments Research Study. Deakin University. http://www.learningspaces.edu.au/docs/learningspaces-final-report.pdf.