Approaches to Learning

Hi there again guys!

Beginning today, I promise myself to post at least once everyday, just like my pet blog, Philippine Chess Chronicles at http://philippinechesschronicles.blogspot.com which has, on the average, a visitor of 1,000 readers a week and page views of 1,500. I'm not really sure if this is high or low since I have not asked anyone yet from Philippine Bloggers Society which I am a lurking member.

Anyways, for today's second post, I'd like to share one of my favorite themes in the world of education, Metacognition or Learning How To Learn.

Since working in an International School for the past 3 years, and having worked with German School Manila in 2002-2003, I've been blessed enough to have attended seminars and workshop sponsored and facilitated by the International Baccalaurreate Organization, based in Geneva Switzerland.

IBO has three major Program which are called:

1. Primary Years Program (PYP) 3-11 years old
2. Middle Years Program (MYP) 11-15 years old
3. Diploma Program (DP) 16-18 years old

The theme learning how to learn and learning skills is very much evident in thiose programs and here they are:

APPROACHES TO LEARNING

Collaborative Learning

1. Accountability
a. Accepting responsibilites
b. Meeting Deadline

2. Team work and Group Work
a. Cooperation
b. Group Decision Making
c. Efficiency in following direction
d. Ability to motivate others
e. Conflict resolution

3. Interpersonal Skills
a. Resourcefulness
b. Respecting Others
c. Seeking Help
d. Ability to constructive criticism
e. Negotiating
f. Ability to adapt to a variety of roles
g. Peer editing
h. Leadership
i. Ability to mix well

Research

1. Skills to locate information
2. Ability to classify information using concept maps and graphic organizer
3. Ability to identify cause and effect
4. Ability to identify problems and key questions
5. Ability to define problems precisely
6. Ability to critically assess the usefulness of information
7. Ability to generalize things
8. Ability to use technology for research work

Thinking

1. Critical Thinking
a. Decision making
b. Considering point of view
c. Evaluating ideas and information
d. Judging, justifying and providing evidence

2. Analytical Thinking
a. Ability to present information through graphic organizers, concept maps, webbing, mind maps
b. Comapring/contrasting
c. Classifying/categorizing
d. Flowcharts

3. Creative Thinking
a. Imagining
b. Proposing
c. Inventing

Self Management

1. Organizational Skills
- Work Habits
- Class work/Homework
- Maintaining journal developmental workbooks
- Time Management
- Meeting deadlines
- Planning and Carrying out activities effectively

2. Self esteem
3. Goal setting
4. Setting priorities

5. Making informed choices to attain a healthy life to achieve a balance in nutrition, rest, relaxation and exercise.

6. Practicing appropriate hygiene and self care
7. Taking ownership of one's own learning
8. Self appraisal
9. Self questioning

Communication

1. Listening
- Listening to directions
- Listening to others
- Listening to information

2. Speaking
a. Speaking clearly
b. Giving oral report to large and small groups
c. Expressing ideas clearly and logically
d. Stating opinion
e. Questioning

3. Reading
a. Reading from a variety of sources for information and pleasure
b. Comprehending what has been read
c. Making inferences and drawing conclusions

4. Writing
a. Recording information and observations
b. Taking notes and paraphrasing
c. Note making
d. Writing summaries and reports
e. Ability to write using a range of levels

5. Presentation
a. Oratorical skills
b. Audience contact (eye contact, impact, conviction)
c. Selection of content
d. Register (choice of vocabulary, choice of language)
e. Ability to connect
f. Creativity
g. Cooperation

So far, these seems to hold water for study skills learning. Hope all of our readers get to share these skills among their students... and themselves. Remember, life is all about learning.