Learning theories broadly characterised as constructivist, agree on the importance to learning of the environment, but differ on what exactly it is that constitutes this importance. Accordingly, they also differ on the educational consequences to be drawn from the theoretical perspective. Cognitive constructivism focuses on the active role of the learner, and on real-life learning. Social-learning theories, comprising the socio-historical, socio-cultural theories as well as the situated-learning and community-of-practice approaches, emphasise learning as being a process within and a product of the social context. Critical-learning theory stresses that this social context is a man-made construction, which should be approached critically and transformed in order to create a better world. We propose to view these different approaches as contributions to our understanding of the learning-environment relationship, and their educational impact as questions to be addressed to educational contexts.
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Research into the relationship between innovative physical learning environments (PLEs) and innovative psychosocial learning environments (PSLEs) indicates that it must be understood as a network of relationships between multiple psychosocial and physical aspects. Actors shape this network by attaching meanings to these aspects and their relationships in a continuous process of gaining and exchanging experiences. This study used a psychosocial-physical, relational approach for exploring teachers’ and students’ experiences with six innovative PLEs in a higher educational institute, with the application of a psychosocial-physical relationship (PPR) framework. This framework, which brings together the multitude of PLE and PSLE aspects, was used to map and analyse teachers’ and students’ experiences that were gathered in focus group interviews. The PPR framework proved useful in analysing the results and comparing them with previous research. Previously-identified relationships were confirmed, clarified, and nuanced. The results underline the importance of the attunement of system aspects to pedagogical and spatial changes, and of a psychosocial-physical relational approach in designing and implementing new learning environments, including the involvement of actors in the discourse within and between the different system levels. Interventions can be less invasive, resistance to processes could be reduced, and innovative PLEs could be used more effectively.
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Het plan van aanpak gepresenteerd in deze handreiking is bedoeld als leidraad voor het ontwerpen, ontwikkelen, implementeren en evalueren van verschillende Learning Communities binnen het RAAK-5 project Het Nieuwe Telen: gas erop! Het is bedoeld om zowel inzichten als instrumenten te bieden aan coördinatoren en facilitatoren voor de implementatie van de lokale Learning Communities gedurende het project. Deze handreiking is een noodzakelijke aanvulling op het project vanwege de prominente rol van Learning Communities binnen het project, maar ook omdat er geen wetenschappelijk gebaseerde ontwerpprincipes voor LC’s te vinden zijn. Er zijn veel projecten die Learning Communities uitvoeren, maar een grondige zoektocht naar literatuur en internetbronnen resulteerde niet in ontwerpprincipes.
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