I am hoping to create and foster a learning environment for students to find their passion and imagination for learning new things.

Click the links to view strategies for creating significant learning environments (CSLE):

1. A New Culture of Learning

2. Learning Philosophy
3. Learning Environment/Situational Factors Outline + 3 Column Table

4. UbD Design Template

5. Growth Mindset in my Significant Learning Environment

In A New Culture of Learning, Thomas states that the three areas of the new culture of learning are engage passion, cultivate imagination, and create in the face of obstacles to which the fundamental ingredient is play (Thomas, 2012).  Play is an integral part of our learning environment and imagination is a natural experience. Furthermore, Thomas explains "In a world of near-constant flux, play becomes a strategy for embracing change, rather than a way for growing out of it" (Thomas, 2012). I hope to create a safe, passionate learning space that will encourage learners to want to keep learning beyond the school day and the classroom. 

In order to foster a new culture of learning, I need to Create Significant Learning Environments (CSLE). Harapnuik defines CSLE as "an integrated approach to creating flexible, engaging and effective learning environments". (Harapnuik, 2015) I need to make my learner the center of a technology-rich, blended environment where I am always asking myself "What can I do to help my learner?" I want to use the strategies in A New Culture of Learning to my advantage to create an environment where learning can flourish. Thomas states, "Thanks to digital media, the range of available collectives-along with their shape, design, and composition-is almost limitless" (Thomas, 2012). I want my learners to feel like they belong in my classroom community; however, with the internet, they can belong to collectives where it means so much more. My learning environment provides the physical and virtual space for progressive and passionate learning to cultivate for years to come.

My Innovation Plan: Collaborating through ePortfolio’s will need optimal learning environment in order to be successful in making organizational change. CSLE utilizes several methods to deliver student-centered instruction, such as face-to-face, technology enhanced, blended, and online learning (Harapnuik, 2015). I want to bring significant training and professional development to my organization therefore, I need to plan what kind of environment will be best for blended learning. My goal is to find resources quickly and keep learning as efficient as possible. I want learners to be able to be successful with blended learning so I must set up the environment for proactive learning.

When faced with sizable organizational change, push-backs and set-backs are forthcoming. Dr. Harapnuik reminded me how the key to the CSLE is that it starts with the learner and focuses on their unique needs by giving the learner choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning opportunities. The role of the teacher is diverse and spans a minimum of four different responsibilities ranging decreasing degrees of control from presenter to mentor (Priest, 2016). The benefits of the COVA approach are fully realized through the proactive implementation of CSLE. The purposeful and holistic design requirements of the COVA and CSLE approach require that teachers look beyond the temptation to use a mobile device or other technology tools as a quick fix and focus on how the learning environment can be structured and how the learner can use the technology to further the ownership of their learning.

There should be a lot of real-world examples for students to explore at all times. If you had the world-wide-web that could pull up anything to discover at any time, wouldn't you use it? I am a strong advocate to my peers for games to enhance instruction and engagement.

Aligning Outcomes, Activities, & Assessments.  Using a Self-Directed Guide to Designing Courses for Significant Learning by L. Dee Fink, PhD, I have constructed my BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal), Learning Environment-Situational Factors, Questions for Formulating Significant Learning Goals and A Three Column Table.