Compare and Contrast the IB Learner Profile attributes with CfE´s four capacities.
IB
There are 10 core values/attributes. IB learners are encouraged to become:
- Inquirers
- Knowledgeable
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Principled
- Open-minded
- Caring
- Risk-takers
- Balanced
- Reflective
CfE
Whereas, the CfE specifies 4 capacities to help children become:
- Successful learners
- Confident individuals
- Responsible citizens
- Effective contributors
It is highlighted that lessons should be engaging, relevant and challenging in order to motivate pupils and therefore encourage students to become successful lifelong learners who can contribute, have a great impact and make a difference in the 21st century.
In both curricula acquiring knowledge is hugely important. Knowing what we are learning is as important as knowing why we are learning it and where we can apply it in the future. This helps children make informed decision and develop their critical thinking skills. Observing my class, I have seen them do many problem-solving activities such as mathematical problems or various literacy tasks.
To encourage children in their thinking skills, in the first week of my placement, my class took a trip to a Science Centre, where they were exposed to many scientific ideas and learnt about Mars. They were engaged in whole-class and groups discussions, which encouraged their thinking.
Creativity plays a great role as well. In the classroom I was in, it was stimulated by many different teaching methods throughout their education and also via participating in a project about planets, which consisted of planning and creating artworks, finding information using digital technology and playing a part in a special play about planets performed for parents.
Great importance in both IB Learner Profile and CfE Four Capacities, is placed upon learning how to be an independent and responsible learner as well as a a good communicator and listener when being a part of a group sharing ideas and discussing various topics. To become a responsible citizen means also being interested and wanting to know more about the world around us from the local as well as the global point of view.
Developing a sense of physical as well as emotional wellbeing is significant for both, IB and CfE curricula. Moreover, in the CfE Health and Wellbeing is a responsibility of all those working in schools, not only teachers. This also applies to Literacy and Numeracy. Whereas, in the IB Curriculum, a greater emphasis is placed upon helping learners develop into inquirers through inquiry-based learning.
Even though the IB is more internationally-focused, CfE itself also tries to help children understand the importance of knowing different cultures, languages and how people live around the world. This enables children become respectful to others and open-minded to new ideas, thinking and information coming from different parts of the world and being able to assess such information, which enhances critical thinking skills. However, through IB programmes, students often have a direct contact with people from around the world which allows them to create international learning communities. Very important values that are being promoted as well are honesty and fairness.
Confidence is hugely important and built when children are responsible for the learning process, or a part of it, their ideas and opinions are valued by teachers and their classmates and it is acted upon their feedback. Studying in various countries, I was learning about the importance of risk-taking activities and the positive effects it can have on children´s confidence.
