LEARN TO LEARN

What is Learn to Learn?

At Witton Park High School, Learning to Learn forms part of a competency based curriculum. This means that the lessons focus on developing a set of skills rather than subject specific content. During the course of the year students undertake six projects. Each project begins by outlining a task which the students must accomplish. During the lessons students are encouraged to develop and use a specific set of skills called the Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills. These six skills include, Creative Thinking, Independent Enquiry, Reflective Learning, Effective Participator, Self Management and Team Worker. Learning to Learn lessons take place in a two hour block, allowing students to work independently for extended periods of time. The course aims to enable the students to take control of their own learning and see the teacher as a ‘guide on the side’ rather than someone who simply imparts knowledge. In Learning to Learn students are actively encouraged to explore problems and find their own solutions. 

Why is Learn to Learn important?

We believe that in order for students to get the most out of their education they must be equipped with the right skills that enable them to work independently in groups and alone. The skills we focus on in Learn to Learn are skills the students will be able to use throughout their school life and beyond.

Skills Days

In addition to the timetabled lessons year seven students also take part in three skills days. These days aim to allow the students to use the six Personal, Learning and Thinking skills whilst undertaking a series of cross-curricular challenges.

Day One ‘VAK’– This is held at Ewood Park. Throughout the day students are introduced to the concept of different learning styles. They have to complete a number of challenges that test their Audio, Visual and Kinaesthetic skills.

Day Two ‘Stranded’- This day is run by the staff at Witton Park. At the start of the day the students find out they have been stranded on a desert island. Throughout the course of the day students have to complete a series of tasks to help them find an escape route off the Island. Some of the challenges include, building a life raft and using eye witness statements to try to work out where on the island they are stranded.

Day Three ‘Murder Mystery’- Once again this takes place in School. The students are shown a murder scene and they  must spend the rest of the day trying to work out who committed the murder. Activities during the day include, assessing a murder scene, attending a police press conference and conducting

scientific experiments.