The Ecology of Learning is a practical and realistic two part programme for educational development created by Jo Walker at Human Ecology. It is based upon recent social and psychological research into the process of learning in schools. The Ecology of Learning model, see below, explains how the interaction between teacher, learner and knowledge creates a ‘ learning culture. ’ In short, the learning culture is the invisible scaffold in the classroom which constructs the mind of the child; cognitively, socially and emotionally.

 

•  Part One : Teaching and Learning Signatures

 

Teaching signatures reveals and explains how an individual teacher influences the academic learning culture in which pupils learn

   - how the teacher conveys a learning objective

Learning signatures enables teachers to recognise the varying learning signatures of individual pupils in their class

   - how different children might come to understand the learning objective

The model helps the teacher to understand and develop the legacy they will leave on the mental framework of the learner.

 

 

•  Part Two: Social Signatures

 

Social Signatures focuses on the social and relational patterns present in any classroom group. It unpacks the unique influence an individual teacher has on the social and emotional culture. It also identifies varying social signatures that individual pupils adopt.

The model helps the teacher in their formation of the emotional and social capacity of the learner.

 

 

These models form part of a wider existing framework currently used in organisational design and management. The aim of the Ecology of Learning programme will give schools a single system by which management decisions can cohere and integrate with educational strategy. Together, they can provide a school with a working framework for recruiting, assessing and developing teachers to perform as highly competent and effective learning facilitators.