Making sense of our complex world requires learners to make connections between what they are learning in their various subjects and what they are seeing, hearing and experiencing in the world. Ideas can be adapted for learners aged 14 to 19.
Making sense of our complex world requires learners to make connections between what they are learning in their various subjects and what they are seeing, hearing and experiencing in the world.
As educators know, contextualized teaching is an important strategy to facilitate learning experiences, relating subject knowledge to meaningful examples from everyday reality. The more learners can relate their learning to real-life contexts, the more likely they are to engage with it.
In promoting and establishing active connections between the classroom and the “real world”, learners are better able to make sense of the complex world we live in.
In times of crisis, students may need even more support to grapple with, not just the complexities of a situation but also the emotion, anxiety and fear that may come with it.
During any crisis, it is important to be attentive to:
- the safe spaces we create
- the language we use
- the conversations we have
- the information we share
- and the sensitivities that exist within our learning communities.
The following activities can be used by educators to scaffold learners to make meaningful connections:
