Approaches to Learning Overview (11)

Students will be given a toolkit for approaching learning throughout each of their courses units over the two years. Each unit will have a key skill taught explicitly according to one of the areas listed below: - 

Below for each area - I have given what may be a very simple skill, protocol, tool, method, process for supporting that area. What is most powerful is when you understand that each unit will have one of these tools some individual to the teacher and some senior school wide - that will build into a toolkit for students to improve their learning.

Thinking Skills

• Example from toolkit - Use of the Circle of Viewpoints thinking routine to discuss an idea from multiple perspectives.

Social Skills

• Example from toolkit - Working within groups can be difficult unless you support everyone to speak - choose an object and set the simple rule that you can only speak when you have the object in your hand. After one point you must pass the object to another person.

Communication Skills

• Example from toolkit - PVLEGS a model / protocol to support public speaking in the classroom and beyond. This has been adopted by the senior school.

Self Management Skills

• Example from toolkit - Pomodoro Technique , a method to ensure that students spend the most efficient amount of time studying before a break - 25 minutes. Sounds simple but very effective. 

Research Skills

• Example from toolkit - Use of Noodletools to ensure that students cite and source everything correctly. Essential for the IB Diploma, as all work will be checked for plagiarism and 

_____________________________________________________

While the IBDP is top for encouraging independent inquiry, with 94 per cent of admissions officers saying the qualification develops this well or very well in its students, A levels lag behind considerably in this respect with just 49 per cent of officers giving them a similar rating." - Relocate Global 2017