The Concept

The CLE provides equitable educational opportunities to all students, regardless of their differences or disabilities. It challenges the practice of segregating students with disabilities from mainstream educational settings. Instruction is designed to be delivered in a “common learning environment” where students of diverse abilities, backgrounds, and learning styles can learn together in the same setting. The focus is on breaking down barriers and promoting collaboration and support among all students, fostering a sense of belonging and ensuring each learner receives appropriate accommodations to facilitate learning.

Detail

The CLE and the Regular Classroom

The critical differences in how the "CLE" differs from a "regular" or "typical" classroom in its approach to inclusive education and the way it accommodates students with diverse abilities and learning styles include:

1) Inclusivity and Diversity:

• Common Learning Environment: Inclusivity is a fundamental principle in a CLE. The focus is on accommodating and embracing the diverse needs of all students, including those with disabilities or special learning requirements. It promotes an environment where every student feels welcome and valued and can participate fully in learning.

• Regular/Typical Classroom: While a traditional or typical classroom is designed to serve the general student population, it may not always be equipped to address the specific needs of students with disabilities or varying learning abilities. Students with unique requirements might sometimes be separated or excluded from the regular classroom setting.

2) Accommodations and Support:

• Common Learning Environment: In a CLE, teachers are encouraged to provide individualized accommodations and support to students based on their specific needs. Differentiated instruction and various learning aids ensure that every student can access the curriculum and engage in learning effectively.

• Regular/Typical Classroom: A regular classroom follows a standardized curriculum and may only sometimes have the flexibility or resources to offer extensive accommodations or support tailored to each student's requirements.

3) Collaboration and Peer Learning:

• Common Learning Environment: Collaboration and peer learning are emphasized in a CLE. Students with diverse abilities learn together in the same classroom, fostering a collaborative and supportive atmosphere. Peer learning and interaction provide opportunities for social growth and develop empathy and understanding among students.

• Regular/Typical Classroom: While peer learning can still occur in a regular classroom, the emphasis might be more on traditional teacher-led instruction and less on intentional collaboration among students with diverse abilities.

4) Embracing Differences:

• Common Learning Environment: The CLE embraces and celebrates individual differences. Students are encouraged to recognize and appreciate each other's unique strengths and challenges, fostering an inclusive culture where diversity is seen as an asset.

• Regular/Typical Classroom: In a traditional classroom, the focus might be more on achieving standardized learning outcomes and less on explicitly promoting an inclusive culture that values and acknowledges individual differences.

In summary, the "common learning environment" is a proactive and intentional approach to inclusive education, emphasizing equity, collaboration, and personalized student support. It goes beyond the traditional concept of a "regular" or "typical" classroom by actively accommodating diverse learning needs and promoting a sense of belonging for every student, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds.

The School as a Setting for the Common Learning Environment

Creating a CLE across the entire school involves making physical, social, and cultural changes to ensure an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for all students. Here are some ways the school  can provide the setting for a CLE:

1. Physical Accessibility: Ensure the school is accessible to students with physical disabilities. Install ramps, elevators, and handrails to make all areas of the school accessible. Designate parking spaces for people with disabilities and create pathways free from obstacles.
   

2. Inclusive Classroom Spaces: Arrange classrooms to accommodate diverse learning needs. Have flexible seating options, including adjustable desks for height and accessibility. Ensure classrooms have appropriate lighting, acoustics, and temperature control to create a comfortable learning environment for all students.
   

3. Assistive Technology Integration: Equip classrooms and learning spaces with assistive technology tools and devices to support students with disabilities. This may include text-to-speech software, magnifiers, adaptive keyboards, and hearing assistance systems.
   

4. Diverse Learning Resources: Stock the school library with books, multimedia resources, and learning materials representing diverse cultures, backgrounds, and abilities. Ensure these resources are accessible to all students, including those with sensory or cognitive differences.
   

5. Designated Support Areas: Create designated spaces within the school for individual or small group support sessions. These areas can be used for counselling, tutoring, or specialized instruction to cater to students with specific learning needs.
   

6. Inclusive Playgrounds: Design playgrounds to be inclusive and accessible to students of all abilities. Install adaptive swings, sensory play equipment, and wheelchair-accessible play structures to foster social interaction and physical activity for all students.
   

7. Communication and Signage: Use transparent and inclusive signage throughout the school to aid students with visual impairments and language differences. Ensure that communication materials are available in various formats and languages.
   

8. Inclusive School Events: Organize events and activities that celebrate diversity and promote inclusivity. Encourage participation by all students and consider diverse cultural and religious practices when scheduling events.
   

9. Staff Training and Sensitization: Train all school staff, including teachers, administrators, support staff, and custodians, to raise awareness about inclusive practices and sensitivity towards students with diverse needs.
   

10. Student-Led Initiatives: Encourage student-led initiatives that promote inclusivity and acceptance. Support student organizations focusing on disability awareness, diversity appreciation, and fostering an inclusive school culture.
    

11. Parent Engagement: Involve parents in creating an inclusive school environment. Organize workshops and events to educate parents about inclusive practices and encourage active participation in their child's education.

By implementing these measures, the entire school can serve as a model of inclusivity, providing a supportive and enriching environment where all students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally and where diversity is celebrated and embraced.

Seven Strategies to Create a "Common Learning Environment" 

Implementing strategies built on the CLE concept requires planning and a commitment to fostering an inclusive classroom. Here are seven ways a teacher can implement such a strategy:

1. Cultivate an Inclusive Classroom Culture: Create an inclusive and accepting classroom culture that celebrates diversity. Promote a positive attitude towards differences, address stereotypes, and foster a sense of belonging for all students.
   

2. Individualized Support Plans: Develop individualized support plans for students with specific learning needs or disabilities. Collaborate with support staff, parents, and specialists to tailor interventions and accommodations.
   

3. Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Incorporate UDL principles to create accessible learning experiences for all students. Provide multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression to ensure every learner can participate effectively.
   

4. Differentiated Instruction: Tailor instruction to meet the diverse needs of students in the classroom. Use various teaching methods, materials, and resources to accommodate different learning styles, abilities, and interests.
   

5. Collaborative Grouping: Encourage collaborative learning experiences by grouping students with diverse abilities together. In these groups, students can learn from one another, share perspectives, and support each other's learning.
   

6. Assistive Technology: Integrate assistive technologies and tools that can assist students with disabilities in accessing the curriculum and participating in class activities.
   

7. Continuous Professional Development: Engage in ongoing professional development to stay informed about best practices in inclusive education. Learn about new strategies and techniques to implement in the classroom to support all learners effectively.

By implementing these strategies, teachers can create a learning environment that supports and celebrates every student's unique strengths and needs. They play a crucial role in fostering a CLE where inclusivity, collaboration, and personalized support are at the heart of the educational experience.

Policy and the Common Learning Environment

Canadian and international policies and initiatives that embrace the concept of the CLE:

1. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: The Charter, entrenched in the Canadian Constitution, enshrines the rights of individuals, including those with disabilities, and has been used to advocate for inclusive education and equal access to learning opportunities.
   

2. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD): This international treaty emphasizes the right to inclusive education for persons with disabilities and encourages countries to ensure an inclusive learning environment for all students.
   

3. Education for All (EFA) Global Movement: Led by UNESCO, this initiative strives to provide quality education to all children, including those with disabilities, in an inclusive setting.

Conclusion

The concept of a "common learning environment" is designed for instruction to be delivered to students of mixed ability and with their peer group in the community school while being responsive to their individual needs as a learner and used for most of the student’s regular instruction hours. The CLE is vital for fostering the inclusion of students with disabilities. It targets creating an accessible and supportive space that nurtures diversity and empowers all learners to reach their full potential. 

More About CLE in Education Policy

New Brunswick Education Department:

• Inclusive Education

• Policy 322

Nova Scotia Education Department

Northwest Territories