Our Learning Animals

I am Reflective Owl

(Reflectiveness)

I am Resourceful Squirrel 

(Resourcefulness)

I am Team Ant

(Reciprocity)

I am Tough Tortoise

(Resilience)

Our Learning Muscles

Planning

We think about where we are going, the action we are going to take, the time and resources we will need and the obstacles we may encounter

Questioning

We ask questions of ourselves and others.  We are curious and playful with ideas and delve beneath the surface of things

Imitation

We constructively adopt methods, habits or values from other people whom we observe

Noticing

We can perceive subtle nuances, patterns and details in experience

Revising

We can be flexible, change our plans in the light of different circumstances, monitor and review how things are going and see new opportunities

Making links

We see connections between disparate events and experiences. We build patterns and weave a web of understanding

Collaboration

We know how to manage ourselves in the give and take of a collaborative venture, respecting and recognising other viewpoints; adding to and drawing from the strength of teams

Perseverance

We keep going on in the face of difficulties, channelling the energy of frustration productively.  We know what a slow and uncertain process learning often is 

Distilling

We can look at what is being learned, pull out the essential features and carry them forward to aid further learning.  This helps us to become our own learning coach

Reasoning

We call up

 our logical and rational skills to work things out methodically and rigorously; constructing good arguments and spotting flaws in others

Empathy and Listening

We contribute to others’ experiences by listening to them to understand what they are really saying and put ourselves in their shoes   

Managing Distractions

We recognise and reduce distractions; knowing when to walk away and refresh ourselves. We create our own best environment for learning

Meta-learning

We know ourselves as a learner, how we learn best and how to talk about the learning process

Imagining

We use our imagination and intuition to put ourselves through new experiences or to explore possibilities.  Wondering, “What if…?”

Interdependence

We know when it’s appropriate to learn on our own or with others and are able to stand our ground in debate

Absorption

We are able to lose ourselves in learning, becoming absorbed in what we are doing; rapt and attentive, in a state of flow

Capitalising

We draw on the full range of resources from the wider world, other people, books, the internet, past experience and future opportunities