MYP framework guide
Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills
ATL skills are the “learning how to learn” toolkit every MYP unit must deliberately teach and practise. A unit normally targets one or two clusters — and names the skill indicators students will actually demonstrate.
Communication
How students exchange thoughts, messages and information effectively with others.
Communication skills
- Give and receive meaningful feedback
- Use a variety of speaking techniques and media
- Read critically and for comprehension
- Write for different purposes and audiences
- Interpret and use non-verbal communication
Social
How students work effectively with others.
Collaboration skills
- Build consensus and negotiate fairly
- Take responsibility for one's own actions within a group
- Listen actively to other perspectives
- Practise empathy and resolve conflict
- Manage and share leadership roles
Self-management
How students organise themselves and manage their own state of mind.
Organization skills
- Plan short- and long-term assignments and meet deadlines
- Set goals that are challenging and realistic
- Keep an organised system of notes and materials
Affective skills
- Manage focus, motivation and perseverance
- Practise strategies to overcome distraction
- Demonstrate resilience and manage disappointment
Reflection skills
- Reconsider the process of learning and identify strengths
- Keep a journal to record reflections
- Develop new skills, techniques and strategies for effective learning
Research
How students find, evaluate and present information.
Information literacy skills
- Collect, record and verify data from a range of sources
- Evaluate and select information sources for reliability
- Use critical-literacy skills to analyse and interpret media
- Create references, citations and bibliographies
Media literacy skills
- Locate, organise, analyse and evaluate digital information
- Understand the impact of media representations and bias
- Communicate information responsibly in digital spaces
Thinking
How students think critically, creatively and across contexts.
Critical-thinking skills
- Draw reasonable conclusions and generalisations
- Identify obstacles, assumptions and bias in arguments
- Test generalisations against evidence
- Propose and evaluate a variety of solutions
Creative-thinking skills
- Brainstorm and map new ideas and questions
- Apply existing knowledge to generate new products or processes
- Make unexpected connections between ideas
Transfer skills
- Apply skills and knowledge in unfamiliar situations
- Inquire in different contexts to gain a different perspective
- Compare conceptual understanding across subject groups
Using ATL in planning
When you build a lesson or weekly plan with Inquira AI, you can tick the ATL skills you want developed and the plan will name matching indicators, activities and evidence — ready to drop into ManageBac, Toddle or Atlas.