Building lifeworthy learner

What are the skills or learning attributes children require to be life-long learners and be successful in life?

As per the Cambridge these skills are:

· Reflective

· Innovative

· Confident

· Engaged

· Responsible

These Cambridge learner attributes that were formulated in the year 2011. The purpose of the Cambridge learner attribute is to support the development of these five powerful and highly desirable learning habits that will inspire students to love learning and help them to lead fulfilled and successful lives.

I did a small activity with my learners in Grade 3 to understand their knowledge of these learning attributes.

Responsible

Cambridge says that to be responsible is taking the ownership of their actions and learning. Learners should be able to work as individuals and in as group too. They should be well aware of the impact and consequence of their actions on others and on the environment. They should be clear with the success criteria of each and every learning outcome.

My observations were that learners understood that being responsible means to finish a given task on their own. As parents and teachers, we need to introduce the language of impact, consequences, and ownership and let our children own the responsibility of their actions, whether desirable or not.

Innovative

Cambridge says that innovative means to be flexible to new challenges that may require new thinking. Imaginations have no limits. Our learners should be imaginative in thinking. They should be receptive to new challenges. Learners should be capable of solving unfamiliar questions and problems by applying their knowledge. They should have innate curiosity about the world and keep pushing themselves to find more ways of new challenges, ideas and experiences.

My observations were that learners understood that being innovative means to create new thing on their own. As a parent and a teacher, we should encourage our children to be curious of finding solutions to a given problem in more than single way. Answer their whys even though you may be busy because a curious mind is the scaffolding for creativity.

Confident

Cambridge says to be confident in working with information and ideas — their own and those of other. Learners should be trained in a way where they can explore and evaluate ideas in a structured & analytical way. Learners should be confident to communicate with others and be able to share or defend views without being disrespectful to others.

My observations were that learners understood that being confident means to be able to speak, participate and attempt the assessment without any help. We should prepare our learners to take intellectual risk. As teachers, we should introduce group discussion which will help our children to explore others’ ideas and arguments in a healthy approach.

Engaged

Cambridge says engaged means to be engaged intellectually and socially , ready to make a difference . Our learners should always be open to new ideas not only of their own but of others as well, so they can work independently and also with others. They should always be ready to learn new skills and participate constructively in society and the economy — locally and globally.

My observations were that learners understood that being engaged means to be occupied for a good reason. As teachers and parents we need to make our children be curious to 5 W’s — what , when , why , where and whom. When we dig more thoughts, we get more ideas.

Reflective

Cambridge says to be reflective means developing the ability to learn. Learners should be able to reflect on their learning, the process and the result or consequences of their learning.

My observations were that learners understood that being reflective means to revisit their work before submission and to memorize the concept thoroughly. As teachers, we should introduce more activities, where they can reflect and connect not only with their learning but also the process, and the consequence of their actions.

To conclude, it is our responsibility to fill the gap in the understanding of the learners and the actual meaning of the attributes. The above five learning attributes are our way of recognizing that learners need to develop the life skills throughout their schooling in order to be successful not only in the field of education but also be a lifelong learner.