What is a learning environment?

Any learning environment must be adaptable and considerate to each individual learner.  But how can it be perfectly described?  This can present itself as a physical area, an ethos or an infinite invisible space. A learning environment can be traditionally observed as a classroom.  This physical space is adult prepared to stimulate the learner being rich with resources to engage the learner towards a central focus.  However, on reflection, everywhere can be viewed as a learning environment.  People learn at work, at home, with their friends and family...the list is endless.  However, the 21st Century learner can now enjoy an infinite space as a learning environment.  Virtual Learning Spaces, (VLS) are increasingly being used in schools, colleges and in the home as a new and exciting learning environment. 

Children of today need to be engaged and see relevance to their own learning or it is argued that they will become detached from their learning. The Schools Effectiveness Framework (2008) saw the calling for children to become responsible for there own learning, to become engaged in their learning within formal and non-formal learning environments. This recognised the need to change how and where children learn. Then in 2011, the then Minister for Education and Skills in Wales, Leighton Andrews reviewed digital learning in Wales and saw the beginnings of HWB which addresses the learning of all Welsh learners ages 3 to 19 years.  It is now clear to see that within classrooms today there is an array of digital learning tools from laptops to I Pads. The use of such tools for learning can be for research purposes, exploring film and music, to literacy and numeracy games that spans across the curriculum. The new Welsh Minister for Education and Skills Huw Lewis has published a new document Qualified for Life where he emphasises the development of skills that are transferable into the workplace.  This importance for transferring skills into a rapidly changing technological age is also noted within the document Essential Skills Wales. 

Palmer (1998) cited in Infed talks about a learning environment being bound; open; hospitable; inviting the learners voice; honour the students silence and welcome the learners speech.  So, positive, engaging environments for learning are essential with regards to technology in the classroom and at home to allow the learner to embrace their learning, take ownership of their learning and transfer these skills around the curriculum and into adulthood.  To marry virtual learning spaces into the physical learning space allows the learner to embrace learning in the 21st Century to develop skills to embrace new technological breakthroughs well into adulthood, allowing the learner to contextualise their learning into their own experiences at home, outside, or at school.