I cannot teach anyone anything, I can only make them think (Socrates)

Photo by Jason Strull on Unsplash

Early days in the evolving school year with new rules around face coverings and social distancing but things have settled pretty quickly in our new Learning Centre after just two days (you'll remember that we moved the senior Learning Centre downstairs and combined it with the Year 9 and 10 students).

We are certainly all about that Socratic school of thought; the Learning Centre is set up to encourage self directed learning via the encouragement to think and make good decisions. Our school motto is Learning to Learn.

We aim to provide the right thinking tools and we share Lloyd Alexander's view that we learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.

Part of that thinking process is providing a calm, settled environment with choices for students - where to study, where to take zooms, where to have face-to-face lessons and where to collaborate.

Every week is different and every day presents fresh challenges and the need to be resilient in the face of covid-19 restrictions, but week 1 was a winner.

Let's work, be proud (Mick Jagger)

Working in the Learning Centre can be a joy. Like right now.

I'm scheduled to cover the LC at various times of the week.

When I walked into the LC for this period I checked in with our LC manager, as per our Learning Coach guidelines. She reported that students had been working solidly all morning. Given that yesterday was a fun day (wacky hair dos) this was especially gratifying and encouraging.

Right now, I'm here - listening to a variety of conversations - many centring on accounting - right now some boys are showing me car pictures but they'll go back to peer tutoring each other pretty quickly. Others are working hard and don't wish me to disturb them. Fair enough!

The Learning Centre (LC to us in the biz) is a vibrant part of our school - students self-direct themselves to whatever location suits them.

Right now the boys doing the peer tutoring are all sitting at the large collaboration table - all in a row on one side of the table.

The Year 12's are in English, some Year 13's are in the pin drop quiet zone, so the Year 11 students are all here right now, spread around the LC working on accounting. 

It all depends on choice - no one has directed them to work at the collaboration table or to study their accounting. 

Love the buzz in the LC right now. At the end of my period a student approaches me to find out how his One School Awards are going - turns out he's at Silver level! Brilliant!

All schools need an LC!