CONNECTED AGILE LEARNING MODEL:
Purpose:
After a review in 2023 of our Neoteric Innovative Learning Environment (NILE) Model it was essential to reshape our learning model to keep up to date with the growing demands of learners and educators in the 21st century. The E.A. Southee Connected Agile Learning Model (CALM) set of principles explains the expectations of best practice to connect, engage students and to support their success over time. Understanding these procedures and processes helps us to design effective learning experiences and provides us with practical frameworks that we can use as a template for success.
Connectedness, collaboration and co-creation: (C)
Our current spaces support students to become partners or co-creators of their own learning. CALM allows for collaboration, communication and teamwork for all students which not only develops their skills but supports their social learning capacity, emphasising how students learn from observation, modelling and imitation. Our co-educational method involves two or more educators sharing planning, delivering and evaluating teaching and learning responsibilities within a classroom setting. This modelling of collaboration benefits students as they are able to observe teachers collaborating, a skill that has many real-world applications, and that effective collaboration may involve working constructively and professionally with people you don’t naturally get along with.
Agile: (A)
Anywhere, anytime learning: the reality is classrooms can be anywhere, anytime and our learning spaces need to reflect the ability to learn in any space within the classroom. Our agile learning spaces are an educational playground that is intentionally designed to be adjustable, exchangeable, and moveable to support collaboration and experimentation. An agile learning environment can turn static or ‘dead’ space into a dynamic space. It also includes repurposing and use of non-traditional spaces such as hallways and communal zones as impromptu learning spaces. Although furniture, spatial design and technology can contribute to an agile learning environment, it is important to emphasise that one of the most important elements of any learning environment is the educators. Agile Learning Environments are not a substitute for quality teaching, but rather a way of supporting it.
Learning: (L)
CALM is a co-educator bespoke model for EA Southee Public School to support academic achievement and wellbeing of our students and staff. It is a student focussed approach that offers students explicit teaching through Master Classes and Gradual Release Model, one on one conferencing, reteach opportunities, small group activities and independent agile learning spaces. Educators are provided with professional learning on entry to EA Southee to ensure they understand expectations for our CALM spaces. At the beginning of each year and on transition to E A Southee Public School students are provided with the opportunity to build a relationship with their educators through targeted in class activities and building that relationship with families and carers through a Meet and Greet opportunity. We create a space for curiosity, discovery and enjoyment and inspire confidence in each student because we are all learners in our school, and this is modelled by the educators.
Model: (M)
Curriculum teaching and learning already extends well beyond the classroom and will continue to do so, and as education changes to suit the future’s needs, the role of an educator must also adapt and grow. It is each educator’s responsibility to empower students to take risks, be innovative and seize any opportunity that comes their way.
With a shift towards a more personalised learner experience, educators must be prepared to be data collectors, as well as analysts, planners, collaborators, curriculum experts, synthesizers, problem-solvers and researchers.
CALM is the procedures and processes we implement at EA Southee Public School to explicitly describe the expectations to support all educators, and the actions required to lead to achieving success as a quality educator of the future at EA Southee Public School.
History:
EA Southee has successfully gained a 2019 Rural and Remote Network Initiative Grant to support the implementation of the Neoteric Innovative Learning Environment Project (NILE).
EA Southee Public School wanted for our students an education system that reduces the impact of disadvantage in our rural community and ensure these young people in our care have the best opportunity to learn, grow and be safe in a positive culture of learning for the future.
Our team of educators driving this project developed classroom motivation and management plans that were based around flexible seating with the addition of areas focused on explicit teaching, independent learning. Master classes for explicit teaching included Point of Need, Reteach and Extension.
In 2019 EA Southee received an Innovative Schools Award for our NILE Project.
NILE TO CALM- WHY?
In 2023 a review of NILE was completed.
Updating our model was to ensure we address ongoing challenges for today’s students including Mental Fitness and Wellness Issues.
We needed to consider students have different backgrounds, strengths and weaknesses, interests, ambitions, senses of responsibility, levels of motivation, and approaches to studying.
To ensure that we addressed the above concerns the school regenerated the NILE model to establish a model to support new staff transition processes to EA Southee Public School. The Connected Agile Learning Model considers the richness and complexity of teaching and learning identities, relations, cultures, and practices. The pedagogical practices at EA Southee are important because these give our educators an insight into the best practices for our classroom settings. It allows Educators to understand how different students learn so they can tailor their lesson to suit these needs. As a result, this will improve the quality of their teaching as it will be well received by students.
At E A Southee we welcome collaboration and learning with others. We ensure that every student has access to high quality public education. We respect diversity and the views and contributions of others, and we treat people fairly.
As a part of the NSW Department of Education, our goal is to be Australia's best education system and one of the finest in the world. We prepare young people for rewarding lives as engaged citizens in a complex and dynamic society.