“It is imperative that we teach our students to be the kind of discerning, self-directed, lifelong learners that their future will require” Guy Claxton and Graham Powell-2019
Learning environments in Celbridge Community School are structured in a manner that gives students the opportunity to develop key learning competencies and habits that will benefit them throughout their lives. Schools need to prepare students for exams and a life of learning outside the classroom. To thrive in the 21st century students need to learn how to be tenacious, resourceful, imaginative, logical, motivated, self -aware and inquisitive. Since our foundation in 2015, the use of technology has been a core tool to support our vision for a vibrant, positive and progressive place to learn and teach. Students, teachers, parents and the entire school community of Celbridge Community School has embraced digital technology as a means of actioning this vision in a meaning way.
One of the key objectives of the Junior Cycle is to place the student at the centre of the teaching and learning by developing more active and collaborative learning opportunities for students. Learning to Learn is one of the principles underpinning the new Junior Cycle and new specifications aim to strike a balance between the development of subject knowledge, thinking abilities and key skills. In Celbridge Community school active enquiry is at the heart of all learning activities and students are encouraged to extend their learning, try new things and learn from their mistakes.
The ‘Learning to Learn’ model outlines our whole school approach to learning. Teachers are encouraged to facilitate collaborating, checking and reflecting, problem solving, framing the learning and working independently their lessons. This will enable students to develop a number of essential learning habits which can be seen on the diagram below. This active approach to teaching which requires students to take more ownership of their learning, through the guidance of their teacher, has proven to have a positive impact on academic performance and student confidence in their own capabilities. In Celbridge Community School we have endeavoured to create a whole school culture that systematically cultivates the habits and attitudes that will enable young people to face difficulty and uncertainty calmly, confidently and creatively.
Teachers in Celbridge Community School have worked with the JCT to share examples of best practice teaching and learning in the classroom. Videos of these examples can be found here;