Inquiry Tips: 3 Ways to Start Building a Learning Wall
“What’s the best placement for a learning wall?”
“How do I know what artifacts to collect for the wall?”
“Do you have a checklist to help me get started?”
“Who uses and builds the learning wall?”
I get a lot of questions about how to begin building a learning wall. From those newer to an inquiry practice, to others who have delved into the process of documentation of learning for quite some time, I love them all.
The more closed ended questions let me know that the educator is trying to create some foundational meaning about this form of documentation or perhaps evoke a sense of curiosity about the ways one might stretch their practice in new ways while more open ended and more nuanced questions tend to fill my mind with other possible perspectives I hadn’t considered and wonders about ways to deepen understanding around these vertical “third teachers”.
Because of inquiries such as these, playing and experimenting with my own learning walls and coaching and supporting inquiry leaders and other educators such as yourself. The collective effort has culminated in the development of a sketch note this year and serves as a valuable tool to underpin and making and keeping learner thinking visible.
This sketchnote is only the start. I’m currently working on a manuscript for my second publication centered on learning walls and look forward to continue to return to questions such as these, dive into more research and share more stories about ways that other inspiring educators, leaders and school districts are leveraging these vertical spaces to nurture cultures that allow inquiry to thrive.
In the meantime, I encourage you to continue to check in on my Instagram to see some of the work I’ve been engaged in (there are so many other great examples of learning walls you can be inspired by searching #learningwalls) and have a few more ways to nudge and inspire wherever you are in your process too.
Something to keep: Download, print & use the sketchnote as a loose checklist to help you get going. I encourage you to keep this alongside as you are building your learning wall and a critical thought partner to help you along the way. Jot down your thinking and notes and reflect with one another throughout this playful process!
Something to read: Leveraging and utilizing space as the “third teacher” is nothing new to those with experience and knowledge of the Reggio Emilia philosophy and approach to teaching and learning. I loved Kath Murdoch’s most recent blog post that highlights several reflection questions to consider when co-constructing or reflecting on your next learning wall.
Something to watch: Becky Carlzon from Learning Pioneers recently invited Anne van Dam and I to chat about all things documentation. As always, Becky framed the chat with some rich questions (coming straight from her learners of course!) that I’m sure you’ll also find inspiring and insightful. I left this hour conversation with a pile of sticky notes to take back to my practice and many more questions leaving me hunger for more! Here’s a short clip with a few structures for you to consider while planning your learning walls.
