Optimal learning environment by Fernando Durán https://padlet.com/fernandoduran7/67xg68aj3yw0js67 Leading the learning category 2 en-us 2021-08-04 02:16:39 UTC 2022-05-22 20:31:00 UTC hello@padlet.com Optimal Learning Environment https://padlet.com/fernandoduran7/67xg68aj3yw0js67/wish/2194077426 Definition: when learning environments are designed in a way that engages the students physically, socially and emotionally, they become optimal learning environments. These optimal learning environments provide opportunities for students to learn actively with materials and people.

Conditions:
1- feeling safe: 
A young mind needs to feel protected, involved, understood, and successful in order to learn. Students who sense they are supported, respected, and valued are more inclined to take on new challenges. In this picture, the kids are learning with their mother how to cook, where they feel they feel safe in her presence, supported because she is standing between the two and respected to try things on their own and not doing it for them.

2-Healthy or calculated risk taking:
When students face and overcome problems, they gain confidence. Encouraging creativity in the classroom, allowing kids to grow and take risks, and rewarding accomplishments can all help to create a learning atmosphere where students want to learn more and achieve more. In this picture, you see that the child is taking a risk and using a knife to cut the vegetables. Using a knife that can cut but not too sharp might make a calculated or healthy risk taking.

3- Opportunities to do transfer learning.
In this picture, while learning how to cook, there are many opportunities to do transfer learning, the kids can use their knowledge in maths to understand portions and practice division. They can measure and use units. They can include science and talk about nutrition and the benefit of these foods on the body. They can also discuss vitamins and minerals found in the food. 

4- Environment to practice new skills:
In the picture, the kids are practising the skills of cutting with a knife. They are enhancing their fine motor skills by doing so. You can see the kids are fully engaged in the activity and they are concentrating on the activity.

5- Differentiation:
The mom is working with two kids at different ages, so the tasks she might assign to one is different then the other. The older is working more independently and the mom is supporting the younger and providing close guidance.




]]> 2022-05-21 18:13:59 UTC https://padlet.com/fernandoduran7/67xg68aj3yw0js67/wish/2194077426 Optimal Learning Enviroments https://padlet.com/fernandoduran7/67xg68aj3yw0js67/wish/2194740518 Definition

The optimal learning environment is  where the conditions are met, both internal and external, to facilitate the learning process. In such a way that learning occurs in a fluid way in a conscious or unconscious way.

Conditions for an optimal learning enviroment, could include but limitated to:

- Feeling of security and comfort. citing maslow and his pyramid of hierarchy of needs, we know that it is necessary to feel safe as a basic condition of life, for most activities in our daily lives, education is no exception. However, we can think about how we can feel in a place that despite feeling safe, we do not feel comfortable with strangers and our mind will not be as open or receptive as in an environment where we feel completely comfortable, it is enough to see a small child that he does not feel observed and begins to dance, sing and play without restrictions but when someone else approaches, he sometimes acts differently, even if they are his siblings or parents.

- Feeling of freedom within a climate of respect.  This helps students not to be afraid to ask questions, to give their opinion if something is of interest to them or on the contrary, it helps to keep the focus on what is of greatest interest, areas of opportunity, stimulates reflection and collaboration.

- Assertive communication. Communication occurs in many ways and through many channels, having open and timely channels to transmit knowledge is vital, it will be important to communicate both emotions and thoughts, through art expression, orally or in writing, etc.

- Collaboration  and support. An environment where both students and teachers can collaborate in a simple and continuous way helps to develop a learning community, where everyone is an important part of developing collective knowledge. They are motivated to ask for help when required and to know who or where to obtain the required support, knowledge is shared, learning  come from experiences, successes and failures too.

- continuous curiosity. being clear that learning is a continuous process comes from maintaining curiosity and openness to new ideas, new discoveries, interacting with other people through their works or messages, keeping ourselves as continuous students will be key.

The picture is recent and I choose that picture becuase that was my first time doing this with somebody else with me, especially with my 3 year old daughter. She really wanted try it , she wanted to know what it felt like, she felt safe with her dad and ready to rappel down her first waterfall. In the first instance they may have thought that the learning happened for her, but I would like that even though that is true, I want them to now realize that the learning was for me, outside of the classroom context, I did verify 4 times that the anchors to the rocks  were safe, that the equipment was adequate, that the security lines were perfect and then, despite the terror that the idea of going down with the most precious thing for me, transmit confidence and security. She enjoyed it a lot, she laughed, sang, screamed and for sure cried at the end because the water in the river was freezing but in the end she wanted to repeat it one more time. I most to said My 7 years old son go dowds with my wife later.]]> 2022-05-22 19:23:27 UTC https://padlet.com/fernandoduran7/67xg68aj3yw0js67/wish/2194740518