Principles of Learning and Teaching
St Clare’s Primary School is a learning community. All members of the community are learners – staff, parents and children. As a learning community we recognise that:
We can learn anywhere, anytime.
Learning happens beyond the classroom. We live in a connected world where students interact with the local and global community to enrich and inform their learning. In the 21st century, learners have increasing access to information through digital technologies. Becoming empowered learners is not simply about acquiring content at school – it is about developing skills and dispositions that can be transferred to all learning situations throughout our lives and across different contexts.
Learning is social, cultural and dependent on relationships.
What we learn is heavily influenced by the context in which we learn. We learn through our interactions with others as well as through opportunities to learn more autonomously. Our sense of self is profoundly affected by the relationships we have with others and this, in turn, impacts on our learning. Learning in collaboration with others benefits us cognitively, socially and emotionally. What we learn – and indeed our perceptions of learning itself - are heavily bound to our culture. Being sensitive to this is important for all within a learning community.
Our emotional and physical wellbeing are keys to learning.
Emotions are the gateway to learning. Cognition and emotion are intimately connected. There is now ample evidence that stress impairs the brain’s ability to function at higher levels and that more positive emotions are conducive to deeper learning. When our personal emotions are connected to a learning experience, we are more likely to recall and it. Sleep, adequate nutrition and physical fitness play critical roles in supporting learning.
Each one of us learns differently but we can all strengthen our learning capabilities.
No two learners are alike . Each person brings their own background, experiences, interests and dispositions to their learning which in turn, influence subsequent learning. People learn at different rates but even very young children can strengthen their capacity to learn, apply and transfer their learning and build a set of skills and dispositions.
Learning is multi-sensory.
The brain has multiple processing regions and responds to a range of experiences that activate the senses. Learning and long-term memory are enhanced when we can make connections through our senses and if more than one sense is stimulated in the learning context. Learners respond differently to different stimuli. The physical environment around us influences the way we engage as Learners
Feedback from others has a powerful impact on our learning.
Regular, timely and consistent feedback plays a crucial role in guiding learners to recognize incremental progress and apply effort towards their larger goals. When feedback is specific and focusses on effort and process, the learner maintains a growth rather than fixed mindset which leads to greater willingness to accept challenges and take risks. is Our sense of self as a learner is shaped by the responses that others give us.
Time and reflection are integral to learning.
It is the quality of knowledge and understanding rather than the quantity of knowledge acquired that is of most value to the learner. Time is needed for learners to process new information and to integrate and transfer learning to new contexts. Opportunities for learners to reflect on what and how they are learning helps ensure greater depth. Reviewing and reflecting help build self-awareness which assists in self regulation, goal setting and more effective management of set backs.
Motivation is enhanced when we understand and own our learning.
Motivation ensures that we are more engaged and that our learning is meaningful. Being aware of how we learn, monitoring our own learning and having some choice about what and how we learn all contribute to intrinsic motivation. When we see the purpose of what we are learning, we are more motivated to persist and challenge ourselves.
- We can learn anywhere, anytime.
- Learning is social, cultural and dependent on relationships.
- Our emotional and physical wellbeing are keys to learning.
- Learning is multi-sensory.
- Each one of us learns differently but we can all strengthen our learning capabilities.
- Feedback from others has a powerful impact on our learning.
- Time and reflection are integral to learning.
- Motivation is enhanced when we understand and own our learning.
We can learn anywhere, anytime.
Learning happens beyond the classroom. We live in a connected world where students interact with the local and global community to enrich and inform their learning. In the 21st century, learners have increasing access to information through digital technologies. Becoming empowered learners is not simply about acquiring content at school – it is about developing skills and dispositions that can be transferred to all learning situations throughout our lives and across different contexts.
Learning is social, cultural and dependent on relationships.
What we learn is heavily influenced by the context in which we learn. We learn through our interactions with others as well as through opportunities to learn more autonomously. Our sense of self is profoundly affected by the relationships we have with others and this, in turn, impacts on our learning. Learning in collaboration with others benefits us cognitively, socially and emotionally. What we learn – and indeed our perceptions of learning itself - are heavily bound to our culture. Being sensitive to this is important for all within a learning community.
Our emotional and physical wellbeing are keys to learning.
Emotions are the gateway to learning. Cognition and emotion are intimately connected. There is now ample evidence that stress impairs the brain’s ability to function at higher levels and that more positive emotions are conducive to deeper learning. When our personal emotions are connected to a learning experience, we are more likely to recall and it. Sleep, adequate nutrition and physical fitness play critical roles in supporting learning.
Each one of us learns differently but we can all strengthen our learning capabilities.
No two learners are alike . Each person brings their own background, experiences, interests and dispositions to their learning which in turn, influence subsequent learning. People learn at different rates but even very young children can strengthen their capacity to learn, apply and transfer their learning and build a set of skills and dispositions.
Learning is multi-sensory.
The brain has multiple processing regions and responds to a range of experiences that activate the senses. Learning and long-term memory are enhanced when we can make connections through our senses and if more than one sense is stimulated in the learning context. Learners respond differently to different stimuli. The physical environment around us influences the way we engage as Learners
Feedback from others has a powerful impact on our learning.
Regular, timely and consistent feedback plays a crucial role in guiding learners to recognize incremental progress and apply effort towards their larger goals. When feedback is specific and focusses on effort and process, the learner maintains a growth rather than fixed mindset which leads to greater willingness to accept challenges and take risks. is Our sense of self as a learner is shaped by the responses that others give us.
Time and reflection are integral to learning.
It is the quality of knowledge and understanding rather than the quantity of knowledge acquired that is of most value to the learner. Time is needed for learners to process new information and to integrate and transfer learning to new contexts. Opportunities for learners to reflect on what and how they are learning helps ensure greater depth. Reviewing and reflecting help build self-awareness which assists in self regulation, goal setting and more effective management of set backs.
Motivation is enhanced when we understand and own our learning.
Motivation ensures that we are more engaged and that our learning is meaningful. Being aware of how we learn, monitoring our own learning and having some choice about what and how we learn all contribute to intrinsic motivation. When we see the purpose of what we are learning, we are more motivated to persist and challenge ourselves.
