Rethinking Learning Environments: Community as Classroom | David Barnum | TEDxLangleyED 

The future of learning is a blend of traditional school structures and community-based environments. The Community as Classroom Framework is a compelling vision for connecting people and places, providing cross-curricular learning. Students at all ages are engaged as they explore relevant topics and issues, using their communities as the textbook. The learning experiences are the result of school-community partnerships. Based on Gillian Kydd's research, Seeing the World in 3D: Learning in the Community, this approach has been overwhelmingly successful in cities across Canada. First offered as Calgary Zoo School, students spend a week at a local site, learning from experts and the environment. Locations include city hall, a community center, a library, a museum or an aquarium. The framework is supported by OECD research and is now offered at 3 locations in BC: the Chilliwack Museum and Archives, the North Vancouver Polygon Gallery and the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives. David has worked in elementary classrooms, in a blended home-school/community framework, as a district Curriculum Coordinator and in SFU's Faculty of Education: Graduate Diploma Program. He has authored resources for the Ministry of Education, BC Hydro and Nelson. Translating research into practice, David co-developed and implemented the Healthy Buddies program (BC Children's Hospital). The team's study was published in the American Academy of Pediatrics & Canadian Journal of Diabetes; twice shortlisted twice for SFU's Cmolik Prize: Enhancement of Public Education in BC. Graduate course work includes an MEd (SFU) and the Transformational Educational Leadership Program (UBC). David serves on the SFU Dean of Education's Advisory Council and, when not training for triathlons, nurtures the growth of the Community as Classroom model in B.C. Contact: email davidbarnum@shaw.ca or Twitter @davidbarnum This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx