Knocking Down Walls and Buying New Furniture? What are Innovative Learning Environments in NZ schools really about?

Abstract

Are we facing a learning revolution through Innovative Learning Environments (ILEs) or are we merely recycling the 'open barns' of the 1970s? Migrating from the notion of 'Modern Learning Environments', the New Zealand Ministry of Education (online) term ILEs as 'the complete physical, social and pedagogical context in which learning is intended to occur'. It is an environment that is 'capable of evolving and adapting as educational practices evolve and change - thus remaining future focused.' The Ministry of Education has clearly signalled strategic intentions for 21st century learning practices through the provision of infrastructure targeted in their 'Four year plan 2015-2019'.