Hybrid Learning - Creating Inspirational Learning Environments

This year educators faced a number of challenges, including students' poor attendance due to covid, low academic levels of some students as a result of their inconsistent approach to learning during lockdowns,  and general issues with re-engaging when they are back at school.

First, I decided to focus on making learning fun, engaging and inspirational to my team: both students and team members. My perception of the initial step in forming my inquiry was in line with Russell's question: 'How do I have present, happy, healthy and engaged tauira (both students and teachers) who are learning in the Goldilocks Zone?'

I believe that you’ve already heard about the Goldilocks Zone but think it's still worth clarifying its definition. Theo Dawson: 'It’s the range in which a learning task is just challenging enough to support optimal learning by stimulating interest and triggering the dopamine-opioid cycle—the brain’s natural motivational cycle. The brains of babies and young children are wired to learn in the Goldilocks Zone, but formal education often disrupts the dopamine-opioid cycle. As a consequence, many (perhaps most) older children, adolescents, and adults must rediscover the Goldilocks Zone if they want to learn optimally from everyday experience.' 

So, we needed some fun to improve our tamariki learning experiences, hook them up and motivate them to be present and engaged. Magic and collaboration formed my response to the situation: as a team, we dived into the world of magical learning and teaching. We’ve been busy designing our magic wands, using them and sharing our creative stories. It looks like we managed to sprinkle some magic over other students as this definitely improved their attendance and engagement.

The results were rewarding:

• students' engagement was very high - including the students who worked from home and participated in our activities via Google meets.
• improved reading and writing outcomes
• creating a positive and collaborative learning environment
• improving and taking my team's collaboration (teachers) to the next level
• increased attendance!