Total: There is an evolving research base that suggests that appropriately designed learning environments have the potential to enhance learning for students. At Taumata School considerable thought has been given to the design of the learning environments and deliberate planning has gone into designing how learning can occur within the spaces.
Designing the Learning Spaces
Research suggests that when key elements are apparent, student learning can be improved. These elements include (M. Osborne; 2018):
- Heat, Light and Ventilation: the closer that these elements reflect the natural environment, the more comfortable those within them feel.
- Inclusive design: a commitment to and an understanding that we all learn in different ways. Some prefer to learn in quiet more intimate spaces; others prefer standing or sitting; others may prefer more social spaces and others may prefer choice around indoors or outdoors. In designing spaces that recognise this, there must be adequate choice for learners to select their preferred environment at any given time.
- Sense of belonging: Students need to own their learning space and feel that they have input into and see themselves as a part of the environment. This includes space for reflecting learning outcomes and sharing new learning, spaces for belongings, ability to create learning spaces through flexible furniture options.
- Variety and flexibility: Effective learning environments need to be flexible to adapt and meet the needs of learners. This can be achieved through the design of the learning environment as well as furniture. Variety is essential to learning.
- Acoustic design: Traditional learning environments tend to accomodate all noise levels, whereas innovative learning environments aim to offer three acoustic zones, reflective/ creative (quiet); creative/interactive (conversational); and interactive/collaborative (noisier).
Designing Learning
The urge to form partnerships, to link up in collaborative arrangements, is perhaps the oldest, strongest and most fundamental force in nature. There are no solitary, free living creature; every form of life is dependent on other forms. Lewis Thomas.
At Taumata School we have spent considerable time researching what pedagogical and learning practices enhance learning. We believe in the significant potential of co-teaching and collaborative teaching models. Co-teaching is two or more people sharing responsibility for teaching all of the students in that classroom.
Villa, Thousand & Nevin, 2008.
At Taumata School we believe that co-teaching will:
- Enable us to better meet the needs of a variety of learning
- Build the capacity of our team as we open up and observe practice
- Allow greater job satisfaction - collective responsibility
- Enable improved examination and diagnosis of needs
- Improve communication and relationships
Educator School Visits
Since opening in February 2019 we have welcomed many visiting guests. Visitors to our school are often interested in the development of our vision, principles and practices; our collaborative teaching approach; the way our flexible learning spaces operate; and our commitment to experiential learning.
In order to establish our school we have drawn on the experiences and research of many professional educators. We are therefore committed to sharing our journey and 'giving back' to our educational community.
Experience Visit:
Our standard 'experience' visits are free of charge. We have a limited number of these each term. Visits take place from 9am-11am and are limited to 20 spaces.
The experience visit will provide:
- A brief overview of the establishment of Taumata School
- Vision, Principles and Practices and how these inform our practice
- Tour of Taumata School
- Questions, Queries and Discussion
Customised Educational Visit:
Are you after something more customised to your professional learning journey? Are you interested in something that better aligns to your needs? We offer 'bespoke' educational visits which provide more in-depth learning about learning at Taumata School. Due to the 'people resource' and time spent to plan for your visit there will be cost. Please enquire at [email protected] for more information.
Possible customised visits might include:
- Vision, principles and practices development
- Overview of learning and teaching at Taumata School
- Tour of school
- Experiential Learning Approaches: learning through plan; project-based learning
- Collaborative teaching approaches and creating cohesive teams
- Time in Learning Studios
Valued Partnerships
Coming soon
