In a school curriculum, the process
of learning needs to be given equal or more importance than the content of what
is being taught. Children deserve to be taught to “learn how to learn”. With
widespread availability of learning resources online, this becomes even more
relevant to our times.
International
Baccalaureate (IB) courses emphasise the independent learning process. The
process is woven it into all IB programmes. Starting with the IB Primary Years
Programme (PYP), students are slowly encouraged to develop autonomy in
learning. They are encouraged to discover connections between themes and
topics. The IB Diploma Programme (DP) puts a greater responsibility on the
students, by the means of the Theory of Knowledge(TOK) course. TOK helps them
understand the intricacies of learning itself.
The process of self-directed learning
Self-directed learning is a
formidable undertaking. Taking charge of one’s learning begins with the need or
readiness to learn. IB school students may pursue learning
activities individually or in groups. The teacher acts as a guide while
students achieve their learning objectives. Students formulate their learning
goals, while figuring out the various resources required to achieve those
goals. Students then set out to create a timeline, chart out tasks and set
milestones for the completion of their learning objectives. One example for a
learning objective might be, if we were to improve the literacy rate in a
village, what actions can be taken?
While the student completely drives
the learning process, learning happens collaboratively, with input from various
sources and feedback from teachers. Students of an IB school are guided to take
more factors into consideration such as cultural beliefs of others, language
barriers, and policies. Ultimately, it is the student who decides if the
outcome of the exercise is satisfactory.
Benefits of taking charge of one’s learning
The process of taking charge of
one’s own learning is transformational. This format of learning forces students
to delve deeper into concepts and challenge their existing approaches to
learning. It is a crucial way to pick up skills during the course of one’s
career. Communication skills, self-reflection, teamwork, discipline,
responsibility and curiosity are some of the skills IB school students develop.
Trio World Academy is one of the best
international schools in Bangalore offering IB PYP and IB DP. For
more details about IB admissions at Trio World Academy, you can visit us here.
