Introduction: What are Approaches to Learning?

The Approaches to Learning (ATLs) are key in all four IB programmes. These are the skills we want students to have to be successful learners. The IB says these skills help students 'learn to learn' and so are closely tied to the IB's mission to create lifelong learners. The ATLs in the MYP also help prepare students for the rigorous academic CP (Career-related Programme) and DP (Diploma Programme), as well as university courses.

They provide a solid foundation for learning independently and with others. ATL skills help students prepare for, and demonstrate learning through, meaningful assessment. They provide a common language that students and teachers can use to reflect on, and articulate on, the process of learning. From Principles into Practice.

The ATLs are broken down into five main categories: communication, social, self-management, research and thinking skills. Within those main categories, there are ten MYP ATL skill clusters:

ATL Skill Category	MYP ATL Skill Clusters
Communication	Communication
Social	Collaboration
Self-Management	Organisation Affective Reflective
Research	Information literacy Media literacy
Thinking Skills	Critical thinking Creative thinking Transfer

The IB then breaks those skills down even further into many sub-skills. Teachers/schools often worry that they must teach all these skills to students, but they are in fact just suggested skills. Teachers pick the skills that are most relevant to their context. What is important is that students get a chance to practice these skills and that they are taught explicitly.

All teachers in MYP schools are responsible for integrating and explicitly teaching ATL skills. From Principled into Practice