The Leonardo Effect

The Leonardo Effect is a new form of interdisciplinary teaching centred around “synchronised integration” of subjects. It allows children to creatively develop ideas, to become more confident as collaborators and contributors, and is producing astonishing results in primary schools. By giving wings to children’s curiosity and allowing teachers to be more creative and flexible in the classroom, areas highlighted in the new curricula, it stimulates autonomous learning and enables children to make connections across the learning landscape. Children rise to the learning challenges and surpass ceilings set by traditional approaches. (LeonardoEffect.com, 2011)

The Leonardo Effect

Stage 1 – Capture the learners’ imagination: human beings have an innate curiosity, if we are shown something interesting we are more likely to explore it.

Stage 2 – Development of ideas: this open ended stage allows children to discover and observe a new topic

Stage 3 – Creation: learners now have to opportunity to transfer this knowledge in an innovative way

Stage 4 – Reflect and Communicate: children now have the opportunity to explain and discuss their findings with their peers.

We were given a group task to pick a topic and we had to come up with questions that we wanted to know the answers to about this topic. Our group had a Hot air balloon and we decided that we wanted to find out ‘How do hot air balloons float?’

 

Leonardo da Vinci possessed the curiosity of a child and questioned everything. He believed using all of the senses in first-hand investigations to be essential to his development of ideas. We have found that when pupils are given the opportunity to take a similar approach it unlocks their potential and gives them a passion for learning and makes teaching a more invigorating and meaningful task.
The Leonardo Effect’s tested and validated four-stage approach enables children of all abilities to access learning and exceed ceilings set by traditional learning approaches. Ken Robinson discusses a need for change in the delivery of the curriculum, the Leonardo effect could be the revolutionary way in which the curriculum is delivered  (LeonardoEffect.com, 2011)

 

Reference list

LeonardoEffect.com, 2011. The Leonardo Effect. [Online]
Available at: http://www.leonardoeffect.com/
[Accessed 22 Febuary 2014].