Learning at Auburn Bay School
At Auburn Bay School, we endeavor to create a school of excellence where everyone is a learner, everyone is valued and has a voice, and everyone belongs. To achieve this, we will work together in unique and collaborative ways.
Student Opportunities in Flexible Learning Environments
Auburn Bay School was designed and built to optimize the use of flexible learning environments for students. Flexible Learning Environments are an integral part of the CBE Three Year Education Plan to implement strategies and actions designed to “…clarify and extend inclusive practices through responsive, enabling learning environments and instruction.” When students are given the opportunity to learn in Flexible Learning Environments an increase is seen in intellectual engagement. Flexible Learning Environments enable educators to “…identify and create the conditions for success for students as unique learners…” (CBE Three Year Education Plan).
Flexible Learning Environments | Traditional Learning Environments |
Support all learners by creating conditions for success, opportunities to work in a variety of ways with variety of peers
| Support students who learn through lecture or individual seat work
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Focus on student-centered learning
| Focus on teacher-centered listening
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Value and focus on 21st century skills such as problem solving, innovative thinking, collaboration
| Focus on individual curricular achievement & right/wrong assignments
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Increases focus on the learning process
| Increases focus on the product – marked at the end by the teacher
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Students are globally connected, thinking and learning through these connections
| Learning and thinking is a solitary endeavour occurring in the 4 walls of the classroom
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Increases opportunity to explore student interests through real-world, authentic learning opportunities
| Focus on assignments based on teacher interest
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BYOD and technology as part of purposeful learning
| Technology is taught as a course
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Flexible Learning Environments are purposeful, adaptive and responsive. Physical spaces in the school and in the classroom support learning opportunities focussed on problem solving and deep understanding. Although students are assigned to a “homeroom” within the school, as soon as the school day begins, students are seen optimizing the Flexible Learning Environments at Auburn Bay School. Typical examples include:
Team Teaching in Flexible Learning Environments
It is impossible to learn in flexible learning environments without the support of a team of educators. Team Teaching at Auburn Bay School takes on many forms and varieties. There are also many definitions and descriptions of Team Teaching. An experience with Team Teaching at one school could be completely different than at Auburn Bay School. For that reason, the work our educators do with students whether they are in a large team, a small team or an isolated setting is underpinned by core values. No matter what the Learning Environment or the Teaching Team encompasses the following core values lead our work:
- Strong Teacher – Student Relationships are critical to student success, attitude and achievement;
- Keen understanding of each student’s learning plan and learner profile (CBE Three Year Plan) is critical for personalization;
- Intellectual Engagement is achieved through the design of responsive, inclusive, and rigorous learning tasks that ensure students participate, progress and achieve (CBE Three Year Plan);
Each student will be assigned a home-room teacher that will oversee the student, communicate with parents and guardians, report on student progress and lead the overall education of the student. However, each day students will learn with a variety of educators such as Learning Leaders, Music Specialists, PE Specialists, Education Assistants, Administrators, Partner Teachers, Guest Teachers or Student Teachers.
Homework
Homework guidelines have been established in CBE Administrative Regulation 3066.