Course content. Module 1

You may wonder what are the learning habits you need to be successful in school, higher education, the workplace and life in general. Research indicates that good learners habitually approach learning by being confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged (UCLES, 2018). In order to effectively control their performance, they are able to skillfully use a wide range of cognitive skills and socio-emotional skills (including personality attributes such as resilience, self-motivation and self-regulation). Confident – Learners are confident, comfortable in their understanding, reluctant to take anything for granted and able to take academic risks. In an organized, critical and reflective manner, they are keen to discuss and test ideas and arguments. They will interact and defend beliefs and views as well as respect those of others.

Responsible – Learners take control of their education, set goals and focus on intellectual integrity. They are collaborative and positive. They know that their conduct has an effect on others and on the world. They understand the meaning of history, context and society.

Reflective – Learners identify themselves as learners. They care about their learning processes and products and build knowledge and strategies to be life-long learners.

Innovative – Learners embrace and meet new challenges resourcefully, creatively and imaginatively. To solve new and unknown problems, they are able to apply their experience and understanding. They will adapt to new circumstances that involve new ways of thinking in a versatile way.

Engaged – With curiosity, learners are alive, possess a spirit of inquiry and want to explore deeper. They are ready to learn new skills and are open to fresh ideas. They act well independently, but with others as well. They are trained, locally, nationally and internationally, to engage constructively in society and the economy.

Source: authors, based on (UCLES, 2018)

The attributes are interdependent and should be regarded as a whole. For instance, confidence needs to be grounded in reflection and accountability so that the learner shows capacity and modesty to assess how sure they can be that they are correct. In order to be creative, able to take academic risks and not afraid to make mistakes, learners need to be willing because they see them as a learning opportunity.