Teach Middle East Magazine Sep-Dec 2019 Issue 1 Volume 7 | Page 12

Advertorial PEDAGOGY DRIVES LEARNING ENVIRONMENT DESIGN BY: TIINA MALSTE D esigning learning environments requires balancing in preferences; with the curriculum as a map, and the pedagogical know- how of teachers as a compass. Ideal learning environment arrangements are a source of inspiration for all in the school community. Particularly within Early Childhood Education, the learning environment has been recognized as the third teacher, side by side with facilitating adults and peer learners. Why wouldn’t we take advantage of this perceptive finding at any level of education? How the learning spaces of today can enhance the competences of tomorrow? The competences required in order to manage well in the future cannot be achieved in schools designed for our parents. A core task of today’s formal education is to prepare the learners for life. Modern learning spaces encourage subject integration with active and participatory learning. The environment supports the learners from knowledge assimilators towards community-based knowledge and content creators. All spaces are learning spaces! Can everyone be a learning environment designer? The jointly selected solutions create an innovation platform reinforcing students’ own initiative and inspiring them to find, try and create novel solutions together. This promotes students’ sense of agency and gives them the chance to show their strengths through choices. At best, the learning environment 12 Term 1 Sep - Dec 2019 Class Time