1. What are the sociological, global and ecological aspects of this place?
1.1. I am struggling on this one right now! I would love some feedback on how to expand this part of my essay!
2. What is experiential learning and its relation to my special learning place?
2.1. "Experiential education is a philosophy that informs many methodologies in which educators purposefully engage with learners in direct experience and focused reflection in order to increase knowledge, develop skills, clarify values, and develop people's capacity to contribute to their communities." (http://www.aee.org/what-is-ee)
2.2. How does my special learning place promote experiential learning? Is the public library a space where I am able to increase my knowledge, develop skills, and increase my capacity in contributing to my community? Again, something to consider for this paper.
3. What is inquiry based learning in relation to my special learning place?
3.1. "Inquiry based learning is mainly getting involved through questions, which leads to understand. Inquiry in term is defined as a way of seeking information, knowledge, or truth through questioning. Mainly, inquiry is a way for a learner to acquire new information and data and turn it into useful knowledge. Every person starts the process of enquiry from its birth till its death, he or she gathers information and data and then passes it on the useful knowledge to its senses like smelling, tasting, touching, hearing, and seeing." http://www.teach-nology.com/currenttrends/inquiry/in_the_classroom/
3.2. The process of finding, analyzing and assesing my special learning place is a great example of inquiry. I first started with wonder, and after processing information, and reflecting I was able to answer my inquiry question.
4. What is holistic education in relation to my special learning place?
4.1. "Holistic education is a philosophy of education based on the premise that each person finds identity, meaning, and purpose in life through connections to the community, to the natural world, and to humanitarian values such as compassion and peace." (http://www.holistic-education.net/visitors.htm)
4.2. Does my special learning place support holistic education? Is it possible for me to connect to the community and the natural world at the public library? Are there aspects of the public library that support holistic education, but others that might make it difficult? Something for me to consider in this paper.
5. What is a special learning place?
5.1. According to Janet
5.1.1. "Classrooms are important sites for learning, but you all are familiar with that approach; however, we will also consider classrooms as places of learning. What will be new to you, likely, is that we will examine why and how a “place-based approach” is a strong approach. Place-based means that students are out of the classroom, usually out of the school, but not always out of doors."
5.2. According to Wikipedia
5.2.1. "Learning space refers to a physical setting for a learning environment, a place in which teaching and learning occur. The term is commonly used as a more definitive alternative to "classroom,"[1] but it may also refer to an indoor or outdoor location, either actual or virtual. Learning spaces are highly diverse in use, learning styles, configuration, location, and educational institution. They support a variety of pedagogies, including quiet study, passive or active learning, kinesthetic or physical learning, vocational learning, experiential learning, and others."
5.3. According to Melissa
5.3.1. To me, I think a special learning place is where someone feels ready to learn. Where they are able to focus, stay calm, feel relaxed and ready to direct their time and energy to learning.
6. Where is my special learning place?
6.1. First instinct
6.1.1. In my first journal entry I identified my blue couch as my special learning place. After Janet commented on my entry, I realized that this space wasn't necessarily my special learning place, but instead a space of productivity.
6.2. Second instinct
6.2.1. My second thought for my special learning place was the outdoors. I had spent a weekend fall camping with little to no distractions, and as I thought about my special learning place I thought that the outdoors could very well fit the description. I would say that although the outdoors is a place of meditation for me, it may not be the most ideal space for me to learn.
6.3. After further thought
6.3.1. After further thought, and reflecting on my first few journal entries, I identified my special learning place: the public library. I am excited to analyze my special learning place and see how my process of learning functions within that space.
7. Finding my special learning place
7.1. Seeking advice
7.1.1. When I first started this inquiry, I asked my roommates what they considered to be their "special learning place". One roommate said the coffee shop, and the other said the university library in the quiet area. I asked them why they identified those spaces "special" and they both agreed it was were they were able to focus best.
7.2. Deeper reflection
7.2.1. After consulting my roommates, I needed to reflect deeper and start to think about the places in my life where I feel ready to learn. I started being more aware of how I was experiencing learning in class, at work, and at home. The reflection process was important in order to identify my special learning place.