The Learning Environment for Pupils who have Visual Impairment and Complex Needs

Institute of Education: University of LondonTuesday January 19th 2010

Judy Bell

Independent Consultant

The essential elements in the learning environment for pupils who have visual impairment and complex needs (VICN)

Essential elements of the learning environment – some variables

Time

Objects & events

People

The physicalsetting

The learning environment

The physical setting

• Familiarity

• Sensory characteristics

• Organisation & layout

• Position

People

• Familiarity

• Quality of relationship

• Number

• Age and gender

Objects and events

• Familiarity

• Characteristics

• Purpose

• Organisation and relationship

Time

• Duration

• Frequency

• Time of day

• Longitudinal duration

Progression & the learning environment

Variations to these elements i.e.

• The physical environment

• People

• Objects & events (resources)

• Time

can be used to indicate progress in learners operating at early P levels

The Five ‘Cs’ of the learning environment

• The Communicating learning environment

• The Consistent learning environment

• The Clear learning environment

• The Comfortable learning environment

• The Challenging learning environment

Manipulating the variables to create the optimum learning environment

• The communicating learning environment

• The consistent learning environment

• The clear learning environment

• The comfortable learning environment

• The challenging learning environment

Time

Objects & events

People

The physicalsetting

The learning environment

The impact of the physical setting on the learning environment

What effect is the Institute environment having on you?• Too hot or too cold?• Stuffy?• Smelly?• Difficult lighting?• Uncomfortable

chair?• Poor acoustics?

• Can’t concentrate

(or is it just the boring speaker?)

For children with VI & CN the physical setting can affect……

Health

Self-esteem

Inclusion

Independence

Safety

Learning

Physical setting of the school

Links with ECM outcomes

Health

Self-esteem

Inclusion

Independence

Safety

Learning

Physical setting Of the school

Enjoying good physical

health

Enjoyinggood mental

health

Positivecontribution

Economicwell-being

Staying safe

Enjoying & achieving

School environment

Exploring the physical setting of the school

Take a trip through the environment of a typical school day…..Is it:

• Communicating?

• Consistent?

• Clear?

• Comfortable?

• Challenging?

Exploring the physical setting of the school re ECM outcomes

Does it promote…

• Learning? (Enjoying & achieving)

• Safety? (Staying safe)

• Independence? (Economic well being)

• Inclusion? (Positive contribution)

• Self-esteem? (Good mental health)

• Health? (Good physical health)

If you need to convince a headteacher, remember ECM!

Enjoying good physical

health

Enjoyinggood mental

health

Positivecontribution

Economicwell-being

Staying safe

Enjoying & achieving

School environment

Finally …if the environment (or the speaker) has made you do this – Sorry!