Innovative learning environments are essential in order to serve the students of today and tomorrow and to support equity, well-being and achievement. This session will explore some of the lessons Ontario educators are learning: the fundamental role of exploration, play and inquiry in learning in face-to-face and virtual spaces, how a focus on deeper learning fosters the development of global competencies, and what we know about professional learning models that have been most effective to help educators deepen their practice.

1. The Power of Play: How the
Learning Sciences Support
Innovation
July 19, 2018.

2. ????????????

4. 2016

7. “Learning is not the product of teaching.
Learning is the product of the activity of
learners.”
John Holt

8. Planet Papert

9. Mitchel Resnick MIT
The Lifelong
Kindergarten

11. Think of your favourite game…
What are the elements that make
it powerful for you?
•Who plays?
•How do you play?
•How did you learn it?
•What learning sticks from having
played that game?

12. Global
Competencies

13. Critical friend – Dr. Chis Dede

14. What is deeper learning?
1. Re-balancing 3 domains
2. Transfer to other contexts
National Research Council, 2012

15. Powerful Learning
International Lessons✓ Ground innovative learning environments in
knowledge of how people learn
✓ Understand in detail and be inspired by actual
learning environments
✓ Move beyond the level of individual cases to deepen
understanding of how to grow, scale and sustain
innovative practice
2015
2017

16. Courtesy of Simcoe County District School Board

17. A competency is more than just knowledge or skills. It
involves the ability to meet complex demands, by drawing
on and mobilizing psychosocial resources (including skills
and attitudes) in a particular context.
For example, the ability to communicate effectively is a
competence that may draw on an individual’s knowledge of
language, practical IT skills and attitudes towards those with
whom he or she is communicating.” (OECD, 2003, p. 4)
Competency vs Skill

21. • Early Years and Child
Care
• Elementary and
Secondary Curriculum
• Experiential Learning
– K-post secondary
• Well-being
PreK – Post Secondary
(measures other than
student achievement)

24. Scaling vs. Depth

25. What have we
learned about
teacher
professional
learning?

26. • Breakout EDU
• EdCamps
• Inquiry-based approaches
• Professional Learning Games
Innovations that support deeper learning

27. Courtesy of Emma Reay

30. blog: Learning Zone