21st Century Learning and Teaching

Should we be teaching children how to learn as well as what to learn? Well, duh! as the children say.

 

This task they struggle with, despite prompts from the teacher. ‘Haven’t you learnt anything??’ The student perception that nothing is learnt at school is a telling indictment of our content-driven curriculum which turns a budding 11 year old learner into a passive, spoon-fed test taker by 16.

 

Little wonder that we despair of our post-16 student’s ability to think for themselves at AS level.

 

The idea for the ‘learning to learn’ lessons developed from early work with raising standards groups in Year 11 where accelerated learning techniques and learning style strategies seemed to improve confidence and performance. My theory was why don’t we catch them before the rot sets in?

 

Trying to create a ‘learning’ school at a successful well-established comprehensive with a stable staff profile has been fascinating and a truly ‘learning’ experience. We have made some progress, we have had some resistance from staff but, most importantly, the students have really enjoyed the experience.