Skills for Learning #3
Within their learning throughout the PYP, students acquire and apply a set of transdisciplinary skills, or approaches to learning. The skills that are identified and focused upon both in units of inquiry and within the general classroom learning, are crucial for the development of the whole child. Being able to effectively think and utilise a range of skills to consider a range of ideas and perspectives, makes learning authentic and meaningful. In the third of five reports into skills needed for learning, we outline the various thinking skills which are identified throughout the Programme.
Thinking Skills
Acquisition of knowledge
Gaining specific facts, ideas, vocabulary, remembering in a similar form.
Comprehension
Grasping meaning from material learned, communicating and interpreting learning. Application
Making use of previously acquired knowledge in practical or new ways. Analysis
Taking knowledge or ideas apart; separating into component parts; seeing relationships; finding unique characteristics.
Synthesis
Combining parts to create wholes; creating, designing, developing and innovating.
Evaluation
Making judgements or decisions based on chosen criteria’ standards and conditions. Dialectical thought
Thinking about two or more different points of view at the same time; understanding those points of view; being able to construct an argument for each point of view based on knowledge of the other(s); realising that other people can also takes one’s own point of view.
Metacognition
Analysing one’s own and other’s thought processes; thinking about how one thinks and how one learns.