Learning with others

Learning with Others

Learning does not happen in isolation. We are shaped by our interactions, experiences and relationships with other people. Whilst holding firmly to our value of every child’s individual story, Highfields recognises that every individual contribution comes together to shape the learning experience of the group. Our classes are made rich by the diversity within them, and learning is most powerful when it is facilitated in the context of overlapping and respectful relationships.

It is common for our teachers to team up students with different perspectives, or skill sets, to work alongside each other in a small group task or project. This intentional meeting of different minds creates a context for learning from other points of view and develops expectation amongst our children, that there is more wisdom carried by the group, than by any individual within the group. Learning to listen is a foundational skill for our students, encouraged from their entry to Highfields at 3 years old. Each day children are invited to consider their experiences from alternate perspectives and exposure to different strategies of thought and action.

The relationships fostered between the children, and with the teachers, offer multiple opportunities for the exchange of ideas as children, and teachers alike, experience the pleasure of learning with others, bouncing their ideas and theories around the group in a search for meaning and understanding.