A collaborative learning space

The teacher of the year 1 class has a highly developed understanding of how to plan and implement effective teaching and learning using ICT. At the beginning of the lesson, she uses a series of concepts maps on an interactive whiteboard to identify with her students the activities and resources that each will use to complete the task. While these appear to be impromptu decisions she has anticipated all eventualities and identified and planned appropriate resources, including ICT software and hardware before the lesson began. In reflecting on the lesson after it has concluded she demonstrates a clear understanding of approaches to learning, including collaboration.

St Saviour’s Primary School in Toowoomba, Queensland caters for over 400 students from Prep to year 7. The teacher of the school’s year 1 class had previously invited a visiting author to the class who had worked with her students to create creatures. She draws on this experience to develop and implement a lesson that is rich in individualised and group learning using a diverse range of resources. Her understanding and use of physical resources (the learning space – classroom, hardware/software) and human resources (teacher aide/other students) is exemplary.