Modern Learning Environments Not Cutting It With Local Parents

The Age in Melbourne last week ran an article critical of open plan classrooms which will resonate with New Zealand educators, many of whom, including Rangi Ruru Girls’ School Principal, Julie Moor, are unconvinced will improve learning outcomes.

In Christchurch, Rangi Ruru is fielding an increasing number of inquiries from parents who are not happy with their children being taught in the renamed Innovative Learning Environment (ILE*).

“They don’t like the large numbers in the open plan classrooms,” Julie Moor says. “With girls particularly, the noise which comes with large groups of children and in some cases, significantly more boys, can be difficult for them to deal with,” she says.

One Melbourne primary school principal, Richard Jones, reinforces what Mrs Moor says with his comments in The Age article.

"We need to be able to hear students read," Mr Jones said. "We need to be able to hear students answer questions in full sentences. We need to make sure we are developing those skills."

Macquarie University released research this year that shows distracted students and teachers with strained vocal chords are amongst unintended consequences of what has been described as “the open-plan classroom trend”.

PhD candidate Kiri Mealings found that 50 to 70 per cent of surveyed children said they could not hear their teacher very well, or at all, in open-plan classrooms.

Rangi Ruru lead teacher for Years 7 and 8, Sally Fail, says inquiries are greater in numbers from areas where the ILE’s are being established or already operating.

“Parents are not happy with what they are seeing,” Ms Fail says. “They are seeing teachers failing to identify their daughters’ learning needs and instead applying a one-size-fits-all approach so they can manage a large group,” she says.

Julie Moor says creating flexible learning environments does not have to mean having large spaces with several teachers and lots of children.

“Before we designed our new facilities we researched extensively and visited many schools. As a result, we opted for spacious classrooms with large doors opening onto flexible, attractive and multipurpose areas.”

In Years 7 and 8, Rangi Ruru provides small classes. Beyond Year 8, class numbers stay low, around the 18-23 level. Sally Fail says learning has become much more student led and personally focussed over the years, and that requires additional individual attention and support from the teacher.

“Our class sizes are limited to ensure that each girl receives individual support with her learning. This allows the teacher to have one-to-one time with the girls which is one of the keys to the confidence, happiness and academic growth we see at Rangi Ruru,” she says.

Julie Moor adds that as part of the school campus redevelopment, the new buildings have been specially designed based on what is best for the Rangi Ruru students, who of course are all girls.

“That makes such a difference to how comfortable they feel at school. Generally speaking, they don’t learn or socialise like boys and we reflect that in our teaching and of course in the design of the classrooms and school campus,” she says.

ENDS For more information please contact Ali Jones on 0272473112

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/schools-hit-a-wall-with-openplan-classrooms-20151123-gl5vo8.html#ixzz3sXcxVW74

*In New Zealand, the Ministry of Education has moved to change the MLE terminology to “Innovative Learning Environments” because of a “growing discomfort with the term”, it says on its website.

About Rangi Ruru:

Rangi Ruru Girls’ School is one of the leading schools for girls, in New Zealand.

An independent (private/day and boarding school for girls Years 7 to 13, Rangi Ruru is located in Merivale in Christchurch.

Rangi Ruru Girls’ School was founded in 1889 by Miss Helen Gibson, and was administered by her and her sisters for nearly 60 years. The sisters wanted to create a school where girls could flourish and excel. Today, the school continues to build on that dream and has established itself as one of the leading independent girls’ schools in New Zealand.

Rangi Ruru is part of the Presbyterian network of schools and also welcomes a diversity of beliefs. Our values of Respect, Aroha, Enthusiasm and Endeavour, Generosity of Spirit and Integrity are based on Christian values and underpin everything we do.