Argument
As the world is changing our education must evolve to our society's needs. Our students have different needs depending on their backgrounds and their culture. According to Thomas and Brown, we must move from the stable infrastructure of the twentieth century to the fluid infrastructure of the twenty-first century where technology is constantly evolving (Thomas & Brown, 2011). Our education system must change and adapt to the learning needs of our students who learn from technology more than ever. They learn from different media such as YouTube, Tik Tok, Facebook, Instagram, etc. According to Thomas and Brown, play within a medium for learning is what creates this context that grows with information and passions (Thomas & Brown, 2011).
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Solution
So how do we create a significant learning environment for these twenty first students? How do we create a learning in which we combine play, questioning, and imagination as the “arc of life” learning?According to Thomas and Brown, this learning environment will be created with two elements which are a massive information network and a bounded and structured environment(Thomas & Brown, 2011). As teachers we must cultivate this environment in which we utilize technology resources to cultivate minds. This learning environment will enhance learning by giving freedom to share personal experiences that add to the general flow of knowledge (Thomas & Brown, 2011).
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Approach
According to the stories that Thomas and Brown shared, sharing interest developed passions and engaged people in play and imagination (Thomas & Brown, 2011) . This is the goal with my language learning students, cultivating their interest through play and imagination. This can be achieved by involving storytelling, role-playing, and games that develop vocabulary and grammar skills (Susnato & Tantri 2024). According to Thomas and Brown, in this new culture of learning the classroom as a model will be replaced by learning environments in which digital media will provide access to sources of information and play (Thomas & Brown, 2011).
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Challenge
One main problem I will face when trying to create a new culture of learning is that my district has excess structure with no room for new technology. According to Thomas and Brown, the challenge is to find a way to marry structure and freedom to create something new. One way that I plan to overcome this is in my classroom balancing the structure and the freedom. According to Peterson, we have to be like a dam that has a fixed structure but allows water to flow freely (Peterson, 2022). The comparison is that we should allow our students to move freely, but with a given structure. One area in which my students don’t have much freedom in using their cellular phones in the classroom. If I restrict what they can navigate on in their phones, then we can utilize them as a learning source.
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Innovation Plan
I’ve been wanting my students to use their phones to utilize AI simulated apps that can carry a conversation in Spanish with my students, but I must provide them with restricted freedom (Innovation Plan). I believe that with the help of the school administration, I can achieve this plan. If we all agree with using cellular devices for educational purposes, then phones won’t be seen as a threat for student learning. Coming together as a team can help our school foster a new culture of learning. According to Thomas and Brown, the goal is to make the world a part of ourselves so we can recreate it (Thomas & Brown, 2011). And I believe that if we allow our students to utilize what they use the most in their daily lives, then we can create a media learning environment.
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Impact in our Schools
Creating this new environment will bring upon many positives to organization such as a stronger culture and better performance. Our community will appreciate and value learning a second language. Our students will be able to support each other and work together to succeed. Many of my AP students have come to me for help because their teachers don’t allow them to utilize google translate in their English classes. How do we expect all our students to succeed if we are the ones impeding their success? English language learners and Spanish language learners should have the freedom to utilize technology to succeed in school. If our school focused on a broad and holistic thinking, then we would be able to make an impact on the education system. A holistic approach starts with identifying the problem and taking a step back to understand the situation (“What is a Holistic Approach to Problem Solving”, 2024). If we have an open mind to change, then I believe we can achieve a new culture of learning. My broad perspective is more than enough to shape my philosophy and I hope to influence many others.