ZEST for Learning

A Thirst for Learning flows from Independence and having a Growth Mindset

Roding Valley High School

Staff Meeting 3rd December 2013

This is the answer what's the question?

•45 %

Hitler

Independent learning is a process, a method and a philosophy of education whereby a learner acquires knowledge by his or her own efforts and develops the ability for enquiry and critical evaluation.• Philip Candy

A 1930’s swimming lesson…..

Give a man a fish and you feed him for the day.

Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Chinese Proverb

Why Independent Learning ?

• “An attitude shortage is at least as bad as a skills shortage…. CBI members said that motivation, commitment to high quality work and a desire to learn were more important than communication, numeracy and team working”

Adair Turner Head of the CBI

Spoonfed students struggle with A levels and degrees

Telegraph

50% of employers are worried about literacy and numeracy but 70% are more worried about

lack of emotional inteligence

The illiterate of the 21st Century are those that can’t learn how to learn.

It is predicted that 90% of jobs 5 year olds will be doing when they leave school are

yet to be invented.

Addicted to praise – wafer thin confidence -Dweck

Deep and lasting motivation to learning happens when :

• Learners explore and understand the ‘how’ of learning

• Learners take responsibility for and have ownership and control of their own learning and achievements

• Learners take on roles that involve responsibility and success of others

• Learners create a worthwhile product through the learning process

Taken from A New Design for Learning Harris Foundation 2011

LO : To know the parts of a circle

Activity• Describe what you see in enough detail to

enable your learning partner to make an accurate drawing of the parts of a circle.

Creating independent learners

An increase in the amount of effort in a school must surely have the

inverse effect on the student effort

The transition from dependent to independent learner

Dependent Learners

• Needing direct staff instructions

• A preoccupation with getting things right, marks and grades.

• Concern for getting the correct answer, with less regard for how they have got there.

• Getting better means a focus on becoming a better performer, higher marks or grades

• Satisfied only by task completion, thinking “I just need to get it done”

Independent Learners

• Make decisions about their learning

• Are focused on having a go, learning incrementally from errors

• Are keen to understand the method and process rather than just the right answer

• Getting better means improving as a learner and making progress

• Satisfied by effort and progress, and are able to see the bigger picture.

What prevents students from becoming

independent learners at our school ?

Achievement Mindsets

Fixed Mindset Growth MindsetAchievement Means proving you are smart Means that you are learning and

stretching

Being smart Means that you are making no mistakes

Means that you are confronting a challenge and making progress

A setback or mistake

Leads to loss of confidence Indicates an area for growth

Success Is defined as being the best and based on talent

Is defined as working hard to become your best and is based on motivation

A bad grade Means it’s time to give up Means it’s time to work harder

Feedback Is threatening, as it provides good or bad news about precious traits

Is welcomed, as it provides useful directions toward areas to work on

Talented Peers

Become grounds for feeling threatened and jealous

Are a source of inspiration

Independent Learners• are clear about what, how and why they are learning and how to

be successful• ask great questions • work independently and collaboratively without the need of a lot

of teacher direction• are curious, enthusiastic and want to know more• use information and technology actively to solve problems and

come up with ideas• develop strategies to overcome difficulty and use them• re-draft, revise, rethink –improving their own learning• justify their decisions• explain their own thinking• review and evaluate as part of normal practice

How can we promote these features?

Consider the

5R’sActivity

Learning 2 Learn

The 5 R’sHow to be a great

learner!

RESILIENT• I can stick at something

• I can set targets and practise• I have a positive attitude

• I find interest in what I am doing

I AM A RESILIENT LEARNER

RESPONSIBLE• I can work well in a team

• I plan ahead• I get on with it

• I know right from wrong

I AM A RESPONSIBLE LEARNER

REASONING• I choose the best method

• I can say which is better and why• I can gather all the evidence

• I take time to do things properly

I AM A REASONING LEARNER

RESOURCEFUL

• I learn in different ways• I use my imagination

• I take risks• I ask good questions

I AM A RESOURCEFUL LEARNER

REFLECTIVE• I learn from my mistakes

• I listen to different opinions• I ask why?• I stay calm

I AM A REFLECTIVE LEARNER

Reasoning

We need to …..

Identify the knowledge, skills, attitudes and experiences that a great

independent learner at our school would demonstrate

Plan to include these in every lesson

Make sure it permeates through the whole of Roding Valley High School