Lynn van der Elst, Development Associate at MIET AFRICA, was recently invited to participate in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s)Innovative Learning Environment’s (ILE) International Conference in Santiago, Chile from 7-9 January.
In response to the fact that many schools are still functioning as they did at the beginning of the century, the OECD’s ILE Project is an international initiative that responds to the question: “How can today’s schools be transformed so as to become environments of teaching and learning that make individuals life-long learners and prepare them for the 21st century?” The project focuses on innovative ways of organizing learning for young people and on evidence of what makes the environments in which this takes place effective. The project, which currently involves 26 countries, has been broadened to include non-OECD countries. MIET AFRICA has facilitated the participation of South Africa in this international project.
Lynn’s presentation at the conference included a discussion on the Dimensions of inclusive learning environments, namely availability, accessibility, acceptability, and adaptability and the role of partnerships in achieving this. In addition, two of MIET AFRICA’s models that respond directly to the challenge of inclusivity were shared-the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning and the Phongola Science and Mathematics Enhancement Programme (see links for more information on these programmes).
