25.1.12

Different Type Of Learning Environment

I am passionate about educations and the current need to revamp the 100 year old system most public schools in North America employ.  As many of my readers know, we took our monkeys out of private school and are homeschooling.  For us it is the best 'system' we have access to.
I know there are school all over the world that have created systems of education that are considered revolutionary and experimental.

I saw an article about a 'free school' in Sweden called Vittra described as:


no classes or classrooms – instead, the students are taught in groups according to level based on the school’s pedagogical principles of ’the wateringhole’, ’the show-off’, ’the cave’, ’the campfire’ and ’the laboratory’ – didactic approaches that create different types of learning and teaching situations. In Vittra, they do not believe in regular classes and the school organisation’s vision is to create an everyday for the individual students where individual development, a living cultural work and challenging learning environments are most important.

Here are photos from the Stockholm location:







Here is part of the school's philosophy and mission statement:

Vittra gives every individual the opportunity…
  • to find the best approach for them 
    Children play and learn on the basis of their needs, curiosity and inclination in the best ways possible.
  • to learn based on experience
    Children’s learning is based on their experience which increases motivation and inspires creativity.
  • to understand their own learning
    Children are equipped with the tools to acquire new knowledge and increase understanding of ‘How I learn’, which enables them to learn more easily and effectively in the future.
  • to have faith in themselves and their abilities
    Children become more self-aware, aware of their strengths and potential for development which means they dare and like to be challenged.
  • to develop their ability to communicate and engage in respectful interaction with others
    Children understand and are considerate to the needs and interests of others, they can express and stand for their own views as well as take responsibility for their actions.
  • to be equipped for study and work in an international environment
    Children develop effective bilingualism in English and Swedish while experiencing and creating international contacts through networks and exchange programmes abroad.

Would you have loved to learn in an environment like this?

Would you send your children to a school like this? 

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow!! That is so interesting!! If you need a guest post on Waldorf Education I could craft something for you. It's been an interesting journey so far for us!

Anonymous said...

Oh and I guess my only concern with this school is the seeming lack of natural environment....

essbesee said...

Wow! Looks like a very innovative learning environment-how cool! I feel so lucky to have the arts based chartervschoolmwe have here, definitely not the typical or rigid public school type setting.

Bossy Betty said...

What a wonderful atmosphere/attitude toward learning and growing!

Stacey said...

i wish schools didn't place such emphasis on standardized testing and results since this leads to teachers teaching to the test(so to speak). i love this environment that you featured. it seems to let students explore and also at their own pace. i didn't know that your children are homeschooled. even though i am an educator, the thought of homeschooling my children has been appealing to me because i can create the type of learning environment that suits them best etc. great post.

Mama Gone Green said...

Sounds fun. I would love to find a school that wasn't so worried about teaching to the test and instead, just inspired children to learn on their own. I am still toying with the homeschool idea, but my hubby thinks I am crazy. I still have a year and a half before finn enters kindergarden, so I have awhile to decide.

Unknown said...

oh how fun!!!! xox

A Crimson Kiss said...

What an amazing environment! I feel lucky that I was able to deeply shape my personal learning despite my public school setting, but students need access to all sorts of things to keep them engaged and learning!

Clair said...

Lucky students.
Wonderful learning environment.

Andi of My Beautiful Adventures said...

What a fun place for children!

Getrealmommy said...

Sure looks cool, and a heck of a lot nicer than the Oakland Public School my son attends, but that ain't saying much...

Pat Tillett said...

I would have LOVED this! It seems that most of the money spent on education goes to the wrong things. At least where I live it does...

Dani G said...

Yes! This is so necessary! The system we have here in the states was created a hundred years ago for a completely different environment and completely different kids!

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