The Schoolyard Podcast S2, E5: The Nice Collaborative Classroom Makeover: Maximizing Engagement for All

Spark Creativity, Increase Participation, and Create an Atmosphere The place Each Pupil Thrives

On this episode of The Schoolyard Podcast, host Nancy Chung dives into the transformative world of collaborative school rooms with particular visitor Dr. Sue Ann Highland, a Nationwide Training Strategist from College Specialty.

This episode is full of inspiring insights that can assist educators reshape their studying areas for max engagement and teamwork.

How can reworking studying areas foster collaboration?

The episode kicks off with Nancy and Sue Ann discussing the idea of a collaborative classroom. Sue Ann emphasizes that collaboration goes past simply working collectively on a worksheet; it entails significant interactions amongst college students, academics, and the content material itself. She highlights the significance of making an setting that helps this interplay, noting that versatile seating and movable furnishings can encourage college students to interact extra actively of their studying.

What are some sensible ideas educators can take again to their studying areas?

Sue Ann additionally shares her secret weapon for fostering collaboration: involving college students within the design of their studying areas. She encourages academics to ask their college students what they want, as they typically have precious insights that may result in a more practical and interesting classroom setting.

How can educators embrace failure as a studying alternative?

One of the vital memorable moments within the episode comes when Sue Ann shares a humorous but enlightening story from her early educating days. She recounts a classroom undertaking that didn’t go as deliberate, resulting in a precious lesson in regards to the significance of scholar involvement and possession within the studying course of. This anecdote serves as a reminder that failure generally is a stepping stone to success, and that frequent makes an attempt at studying are important for progress.

I want any individual would have advised me simply to leap in and check out it. It’s okay to have it not work. – Dr. Sue Highland

What occurs once we suppose outdoors the field?

Because the dialog unfolds, Nancy and Sue Ann have interaction in some enjoyable hypothetical situations, together with what they might do if they may break a legislation of physics within the classroom. Their imaginative responses spark creativity and spotlight the significance of making an inviting and interesting studying setting.

For those who’re an educator seeking to revamp your classroom or just in search of inspiration for fostering collaboration amongst your college students, this episode is a must-listen! Tune in to listen to all of the insights and tales that can provide help to embark by yourself classroom revolution.

Dr. Sue Ann Highland is the Nationwide Training Strategist for College Specialty. As an Training Strategist, she makes use of her experience in instructional initiatives and administrative management to assist academics and leaders to rework educating and studying.

Along with her work at College Specialty, Dr. Highland has additionally served as a change and enchancment marketing consultant to many Colorado enterprise and academic establishments since 2004. On this capability, she enhanced personnel efficiency, streamlined organizational operations, and launched course of enhancements that enhanced productiveness for corporations and colleges. She additionally has a number of years of expertise in managing a group that transforms studying environments for districts.

Dr. Highland derives her experience from over 25 years in schooling, with half of these years in rural districts. She has labored as an Organizational Growth Director, an elementary college principal, and a college district’s Director of Federal Applications, Curriculum and Instruction. In these positions, Dr. Highland was liable for skilled growth and every day administration in addition to for main initiatives and evaluating employees efficiency and outcomes. She makes a speciality of enchancment, turnaround, and alter administration.

Dr. Highland obtained a Grasp of Arts in Academic Management and Coverage Research from the College of Northern Colorado and a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon College.