Trinity Catholic Primary School is excitedly awaiting the opening of their brand new cooperative learning spaces, with the handover to occur towards the end of December. The project, which began in July, aims to create a new collaborative dynamic within the learning environment, and it is innovative approach to education that implements the ‘Kagan Learning Structures.’ The strategies have already been implemented to a degree in the current space the students were transferred to, with much success.
Classrooms currently under construction. Isabelle Shea and Samantha Scott hard at work.
The former four traditional classrooms have been transformed into two distinct learning spaces, in which Kindergarten to Year 2, and Years 3 to 6 will be educated as two cohorts. “We’ll be using strategies to get students to learn cooperatively; research shows cooperative learning improves outcomes,” principal Marylou Gorham said. The new rooms feature strategies to ensure that, when necessary, the students can be segmented. Sliding glass doors break the room into thirds, while break off areas allow smaller groups of students to work independently from the main cohort according to their needs. Each day will commence with a three hour block of uninterrupted literacy and numeracy time, that involves the cohorts being taught as a whole.
During this time, three teachers and one learning support assistant will be present in the room, ensuring students receive the learning assistance they require. The School is also implementing a ‘bring your own device’ policy that allows each student the opportunity to partake in inquiry learning. The rooms currently being used as classrooms will be given new roles, including as a teacher workspace and a well-being space.
