Using wall spaces as a learning tool

I began to use the wall space as a learning tool, constructing informative, reference ‘walls’ which could be continuously used rather than just festooned with colourful posters that were rarely looked at never mind used by other students.

I firstly created a ‘Learning Wall’ in which students could record their experiences, learning, questions and thoughts on particular activities or strategies in designated sections by using post it note. I found the wall began to promote and encourage student voice whilst offering opportunities for assessment and improvement for me. 

 Second came a ‘Collaborative Learning’ wall. I had always been baffled by the student’s inability to work together in a group. Through TEEP I learned we often assume students have the ability and the skills to carry out many things they simply don’t know how to do yet. I discovered that our role as teachers requires us to explicitly ‘teach’ these skills too. I use the wall to teach the collaborative skills by displaying photographs of students surrounded by visual cues and statements.  I encourage students to visit the wall to refresh their learning as needed.

Finally my most difficult task was to begin to share my thoughts with my students in an attempt to fully transform the classroom climate. Instead of thrusting rules and regulations upon my students we discussed the importance of them together and came up with classroom charters. By sharing my thinking with the students they were able to understand the importance of certain rules within a science lab. This worked equally well for the students as they described activities and procedures they wished to include within lessons. This totally transformed the feeling within lessons. I began to share my thought on particular lesson activities and even showed students my lesson plans to allow them to become increasingly involved in their learning. They began to ask more and more questions wanting to know how they could improve their work and what they could do next, so I created a ‘Level Wall’. The wall displays the different foci within the science curriculum alongside the corresponding levels. Students regularly visit the wall to check their own work, mark it by giving themselves a level and figure out how they can improve. The wall has allows students to be independent learners.  I have almost become redundant.

In completing my TEEP training I learned what an important place the classroom truly is. It is not just a room which houses exercise books and pens. Nor is it just a room for that matter, it is a climate, a climate which needs to be established and then nurtured if we are to get the best out of our learners. 

By Sarah Monaghan