2021 Volume 53 Issue 1 Pages 105-112
In the International Baccalaureate, a comprehensive international educational program, students learn Approaches to Learning (ATL) or generalized skills from the outset of the program and incorporate them into their learning activities. I analyzed the results of surveys to discern whether the students were aware of and applied their skills in their education. Furthermore, to aid in the students’ understanding of concepts like quality and aesthetics in the shaping of natural materials in woodworking, we established research questions for the students to consider throughout these activities. We then analyzed the students’ written responses to discern whether they had actually engaged in deeper learning. We found that if the skills were explained in practical terms, the students understood their meaning and were aware of them in each instance of learning. We found from the research questions that the students developed a deeper understanding of the beauty of crafts and the necessity of the arts through a practical application of artisanry. Meanwhile, how thoroughly ATL skills are applied in the students’ learning activities has become a matter to be addressed at a later date.
