6 Core Elements that Create a Great Learning Environment...

If you value learning, it’s useful to consider whether the environment you find yourself in contains key ingredients that support the process. We learn at home, education settings and within community groups, however, learning takes place anytime anywhere and can be helped or hindered.

1. Modelling

What I’ve noticed as a long-term home educator is that modelling learning with a growth mindset is has been a very powerful way for my children to learn. I’ve experienced this at home, in our home-education learning co-operative, our NVC community and at the Freedom to Learn Forum from which I have just returned.

This seems particularly true when children are free to join, dip in and out, witness and enquire what’s important within the community, stimulating new dialogue and expanding perspective. This is especially potent when learning is immediately relevant and can be integrated in the now, enhancing the current experience and enriching the context.

We understood that every member of our home-education co-operative was engaged in active learning, most prominently discovering what it is to be in community.

As it turned out, we were on our way to re-creating the village! A set-up that most closely represents real life and real learning. Learning that is relevant and meaningful and contributes to a better world.

2. Clarity of Structure

This helps to orient ourselves within the day and allows us to sink into a known rhythm. One that aligns with the natural energies of the day works best so that our energy flows with that of nature as it/we progress through the day, month or year.

Our home-education co-op was primarily based outdoors and benefitted from a committed number of families who met twice weekly, the children a third day independently at forest school. This had us in close connection with the cycles of nature and for this to work as a year-round endeavour we had to be responsive to our changing needs.

This commitment to each other led us to overcome many challenges and evolve into a very strong community. Shantigarbha of Seed of Peace says, ‘shared risk creates community’ and this has certainly been my experience! When something seemed not to be working, we observed what was missing and either accessed the resources we already had to find a creative way forward or learned from the wisdom of trusted sources. Once such movement that shaped our environment was NVC, (nonviolent/compassionate communication).

3. Fostering a Culture of Care

We aspired to a number of cultural values from NVC. Some of these included invitational consent-based learning spaces, hearing each other’s lived experiences with compassion and empathy, sharing from the heart with honesty, and caring for the connection above all else.

This wasn’t easy given we’d ourselves all come from the school system and live in a culture very different from these ideals. It brought up challenge and conflict, and a need for systems to hold and process what arose with loving care.

4. Loving Systems

We began the day with energising songs, games, and welcome circle to aid connection. This aimed to foster a ‘power with’ approach and sense of equality. For times when lines of communication broke down and misunderstandings arose, we made use of Dominic Barters 'Restorative Circles' process to restore trust and re-establish flow. It seemed that the children learned this process by osmosis!

5 .Content that Uplifts

We didn’t follow a curriculum or any particular learning approach. We didn’t even say we were child-led, and we were definitely not parent-led as we were ever keep to empower the children to direct their own learning. We came to understand that we were community-led.

We accepted the Open House Technology method used by NVC for energy sharing of knowledge, skills and enthusiasm. This allows anyone in the community to make an offer or request for a session with massive freedom of scope. This way offerer’s could chose something aligned to their skills and passions, as well as respond to what was wanted, thereby allowing the receiver to benefit from the giver sharing something meaningful.

6. Fair and Efficient Decision Making

Early on we had a sense that democracy wasn’t good enough. A majority vote leaves those in the margins feeling like their needs don’t matter and has the effect of subduing and disempowering, or conflict, campaign and confrontation. We were eager to find another way. Thankfully, NVC offered us another gem; that of sociocracy.

The sociocratic decision making process is efficient and allows all voices to be heard. There are similarities with Miki Kashtan’s 'Convergent Facilitation' where a proposal for changes is adapted and evolves into one that everyone can consent to.

This process allows hearing the impact of a change to a person’s ability to access the said resource or service, it values objections as gifts that strengthen the change to be implemented. It is empowering and allows members to leave with a sense of accomplishment and value.

Conclusion

My experience of intentional and committed community has discovered how a great learning environment creates a structure, culture, and systems revolved around love and our natural rhythms and energy. In this space we become known, valued, participate freely and make meaningful contribution.

As home-educators creating an environment where all feelings are welcome and all needs matter, (NVC consciousness again!), our children can flourish as they take on the colour of the water they swim in.

References

Dominic Barter's Restorative Circles; https://restorativejusticeontherise.org/dominic-barter-of-restorative-circles/

Freedom to Learn; https://www.freedomtolearn.uk/index.php

Miki Kashtan's Convergent Facilitation; https://convergentfacilitation.org/who-we-are/miki-kashtan-2/

Open Space Technology; https://artofhosting.org/what-is-aoh/methods/open-space-technology/

Seed of Peace; https://seedofpeace.org/

Sociocracy; https://www.sociocracyforall.org/sociocracy/