Learning to Learn


Background


A major focus at Roselea Public School is to ensure the provision of a learning environment that promotes high quality student learning. In line with current research, we acknowledge the need to develop students who are life long learners, who possess the skills they need to effectively participate in workplaces and communities of the future, who are literate, numerate, articulate and effective in applying the skills associated with learning and social competence.

To achieve this we believe that there is a need to be explicit in the way in which we teach not only the basic skills of literacy and numeracy but the broader skills associated with effective learning and thinking.

Aims of the program


The decision was made to begin the process of implementing a Learning to Learn program. By explicitly teaching students how to learn, the program aims to:

  • Increase students’ awareness of themselves as learners
  • Increase teachers’ capacity to be creative designers of learning
  • Students during their primary schooling at Roselea will develop:
  • Information and research skills
  • Social competencies such as co-operation, team work, resilience, citizenship, flexibility and effective listening
  • A capacity to set goals, monitor their progress and reflect on their own learning
  • An understanding of multiple intelligences
  • Higher order thinking skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Technology skills
  • Study skills including the use of visual tools for learning
  • Personal attributes and Habits of Mind to assist students to be motivated and have a positive attitude towards learning

Roselea staff engaged in the process of reviewing the conditions necessary for effective teaching and learning and the development of a model that would best meet the needs of students to become competent life long learners. In the implementation of this model, the staff have worked in the following areas:

  • Development of a wide range of teaching strategies based on Gardener’ Multiple Intelligences, Edwards DeBono’s 6 Thinking hats, Ryan’s Thinkers Keys, Bloom’s Taxonomy and Visual Learning Tools
  • Development of understandings around quality teaching and learning
  • Implementation of co-operative learning and the explicit teaching of the aligned skills
  • Development of understandings of Habits of Mind (learning behaviours), the identification of priority learning behaviours and the development of teaching and learning strategies
  • Development of understandings about authentic assessment, consistent teacher judgement, student goal setting and self reflection
  • Skill development in the use of learning technologies