Approaches to learning (ATLs)

Approaches to learning concerns the way knowledge is received.  In order to receive information effectively the student must be capable of using the following skills:  

• cognitive - thinking skills, problem solving, understanding concepts.
• meta-cognitive - an awareness of the different thought processes required for different tasks, thinking about thinking.
• affective - handling emotions and behaviour.

The IB document  Approaches to teaching and learning classifies these skills into 5 overlapping areas:

• thinking skills
• communication skills
• social skills
• self management skills
• research skills.

This means that when designing a unit as well as individual lessons we must consider how these skills can be developed.  For this reason I try wherever possible to include as many of the following into my lessons as possible:

• a section where by new information is transmitted
• a part of the lesson which asks the students to relate the information to a given scenario, such as via a discussion point
• a reflective element in the form of a question
• a research element where the students themselves will investigate and find information for themselves.