Learning to Learn in Schools

In a recent, Knowledge@Wharton the article highlights the impact of new technologies on the economy and the job market – possible in-existence of existing job roles and creation of new job market.  And that to get new jobs, learning has to be continuous since the current skills will not suffice.

The first thing that Finnish schools teach their students is “Learning to Learn” and that is the part of their official curriculum – Thinking and Learning to Learn. No wonder Finland is reputed as the leader in education. While there are many more areas they cover, for the sake of this article we will focus on Learning to Learn skills

The ability to think and learning how to learn forms the groundwork for lifelong and continuum learning. Each of them is skills that can be acquired with guidance and practice. Building on those skills helps individuals to reach their personal development goals, such as understanding the relationships between everything, becoming more aware, the ability to self-motivate and set personal targets, as well as independence. At the same time, it’s important to study, reflect and evaluate the personal experiences and feelings that arise from your learning.

Skills that are acquired in this subject are

1. Following enquiry based learning way
2. Inculcating Critical Thinking
3. Creative Thinking
4. Mindfulness
5. Owning Responsibility for Self Learning
6. Discovering Strengths and Adapting Learning Strategies
7. Creating Self Learning Path
8. Collaboration and Social Learning
9. Knowledge Building

More can be discussed on each particular skill building in detail. To have successful implementation of the Learning to learn curriculum, each stakeholder in the process has to participate – the school, teachers, parents and students.