Educational needs of refugees and the six learning spaces in education.

Syrian refugee children need safe learning Spaces and environments to continue their education.

The Six Learning Spaces are: the Personal learning Space; the e-Space; the Liminal Space; the Classroom and the School Space; Beyond the Classroom Space; and the Collaborative, Co-operative and Group Space. These Spaces are "intertwined and enmeshed together like knots in a rope" (Staples, A. 2017). The Six Learning Spaces offer a place where students and children can "learn, play and heal from trauma (Rescue.org, 2017)."

The teachers play a vital role in the healing process of these children. They need to understand the cultural background of their students as well as empathize with them. The teachers can help them overcome their trauma and fears of the unknown or the Liminal Space.

The Liminal Space is where we move from the known to the unknown and back again to the known as we are transformed in an abstract reality in our heads. This is where curiosity, flexibility, open mindedness and risk taking, can take place and confidence can be rebuilt. These can be achieved through special drama lessons; story telling and sharing of their known experiences and then building onto their unknown experiences in a safe environment where they can express themselves without ridicule or fear of embarrisment.

The Personal Learning Space is where they can redirect their energy into positive learning outcomes as well as self reflect, evaluate and believe in their own ability or self-efficacy via the Liminal Space too.

The Classroom and the School needs to be flexible, colorful, inviting and stimulating with lots of space and light to enhance the above spaces. One that caters for Group, Collaborative and Co-operative learning too. It needs to incorporate incursions and excursions beyond the four walls to expand children's learning and experiences. Students can explore the outside world through an excursion, such as, to a museum or to the Zoo, in a safe, organized trip with teachers, support staff and parents. Incursions on the other hand can be viewed via the internet ie. Malala's Life to enlighten, encourage and inspire students.

The e-Spaces is technologies and software or applications that engages, stimulates and motivates students. They can be flexible enough to support group or individual student needs. They allow children to be imaginative and creative critical thinkers in a calm and peaceful environment. The e-Space can stimulate children's higher order thinking with the correct applications and software. It is a space that is "enmeshed and intertwined" (Staples, 2017) in all the above five Learning Spaces.

An e-Space which refugees need to access is "Refugee.Info, a mobile-phone friendly website is available in Arabic, Farsi and English" (Rescue.org). This site connects them to:

"credible, up-to-date information about available services, legal rights, options for asylum, relocation and family reunification...shelter, protection and foster care for unaccompanied children... and mental-health counseling and other psychological support"(Rescue.org).

https://www.rescue.org/country/greece#what-are-the-main-humanitarian-challenges-in-greece