WISS Learning Environments Unlock Student Potential

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Educators often refer to the Learning Environment as the Third Teacher. This is evidence of the importance schools place on considering how the environment they create supports learning and teaching.

The learning environment in a school is vital to student's success, both in the classroom and beyond. Schools that implement effective learning environments help foster a sense of belonging, respect, and confidence. A positive learning environment allows students to feel comfortable and safe and focus on their studies. It also helps create an engaging atmosphere for teachers and students, encouraging collaboration, communication, and respect for one another.

Additionally, a positive learning environment allows students to take ownership of their learning by providing opportunities to explore, discuss, and participate in activities related to their interests. A positive learning environment also helps ensure that all students are held to high standards and their progress is properly monitored and evaluated.

Good learning environments motivate students to strive to reach their full potential and strengthen their critical thinking skills.

At the Western International School of Shanghai (WISS), teachers reflect on how best to utilize indoor and outdoor spaces to provoke students’ inquiry and to capture and share their learning. We acknowledge that engaging, inviting learning spaces can be co-constructed by teachers and students together.

On the WISS campus, students are offered attractive outdoor and indoor learning environments in the Early Years setting at WISS. Students can follow an outdoor sensory pathway that leads to a calm bamboo forest. They can use their senses to explore the outdoor mud kitchen and their imagination to create with outdoor materials. Indoors, the Early Years classrooms are designed with cozy spaces for individuals and small groups to interact and more extensive, modern open-plan spaces that facilitate role play, loose parts play, and whole group discussions. The walls of the Early Years classrooms display photos of the children engaged in inquiry and discovery, together with comments and questions they have about their learning. The learning environment shows evidence of students' input in creating the spaces they interact with daily.

Walking through the Primary School, you will see different classroom displays with common elements. Classroom boards are used not only to display important teaching points which students can refer to but also to honor the student learning processes, showcase their thinking, and document the development of their skills. Arranging flexible classroom spaces where students can choose where they sit and how they work is a key element of the learning environment at WISS. Some learning spaces allow the students to focus on developing different skills, such as sports, robotics, or coding. In contrast, other spaces are dedicated to recreation, encouraging social interactions, or gathering for assemblies and events.

Our purposely designed learning spaces offer clues into classroom practices and demonstrate what we believe in as part of the Primary Years Programme offered at WISS.

If you would like to come and explore the exceptional learning spaces at the Western International School of Shanghai, we encourage parents to visit our website, book a tour, or join one of our insightful Open House events.

Contributed by Heidi Steinbring, Primary Years Programme Coordinator (Early Years) and Inga Bela, Primary Years Programme Coordinator (Primary).

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WISS Learning Environments Unlock Student Potential

Mar 3, 2023