School Leadership: Inquiry into the Learner Profile

InThinking Subject Sites

Subscription websites for IB teachers & their classes

Find out more


Sitemap
Recommendations
Other subjects
Brochure

Disclaimer: InThinking subject sites are neither endorsed by nor connected with the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

Inquiry into the Learner Profile

Why do we need the learner profile anyway?

The requirement for all IB schools to incorporate the learner profile into all aspects of school life is clearly stated in the IB programmes Standards and Practices.

In these activities we inquire into the attributes of the IB Learner Profile. These activities can be used at the beginning of the school year as a refresher activity with all staff / students. They can also be used as a way of realigning current thinking with that of the IB as we carry out a self-review as part of the IB five year evaluation process.

Activity: Inquiry Questions Bank

In this “Inquiry Questions Bank” activity the aim is to generate good, thought-provoking, discussion-generating inquiry questions on the given learner profile attribute in order to create a bank of guiding questions. This task helps to developing thinking around each attribute.

  • Distribute the ten learner profile attributes amongst staff, giving each group of staff one to work with.
  • Ask people in pairs to think/pair/share a list of inquiry questions on the given attribute.
  • Collate in plenary and share using a Gallery Walk
  • Discuss ways in which these attributes could be embedded more in the life of the school.

  

Using the Learner Profile in IB World Schools

The learner profile has been examined through the lens of literature associated with learning theories by Dr Sandra Bullock in The IB learner profile: Literature review: ‘The IB learner profile has met with almost universal acceptance among educators in IB World Schools. It is clearly a “good thing” and few would deny its value in nurturing the aims of the IB. For successful realization, however, it is important that the derivation of each attribute of the learner profile can be traced to sound theoretical principles related to the processes of learning.’ (Page 2)

During this literature review the ten learner profile attributes were organized into four categories:

Aspects of Learning

Cognitive

Conative

Affective

Culture

Knowledgeable

Thinkers

Reflective

Inquirers

Principled

Caring

Risk-takers

Balanced

Communicators

Open-minded

  • In what ways could thinking of the learner profile attributes in these categories help you in its implementation?  
  • Did this research review enable you to see the learner profile in a different way?

Resources

Toddle - Living the MYP Learner Profile. Sign-up is required, but free. Loads of great resources
 

All materials on this website are for the exclusive use of teachers and students at subscribing schools for the period of their subscription. Any unauthorised copying or posting of materials on other websites is an infringement of our copyright and could result in your account being blocked and legal action being taken against you.