AGENCY 

Teaching and Learning at Holy Trinity

Teaching Conceptually

As you are well aware Holy Trinity is an International Baccalaureate school, where we teach the Primary Years Programme (PYP). Using the framework and philosophy of the PYP we are able to better prepare your children for a future of possibility. As we don’t know what shape their future careers may take, we make a dedicated effort to prepare our students with the necessary skills and knowledge to face any challenges head on. 

One of the ways we do this is by framing all teaching and learning with a focus on conceptual understanding.  So what is a concept? Good question! When we refer to a concept, we are describing a way of guiding our students in their learning without limiting it. The most common misunderstanding is that concepts and topics are the same thing. Let me explain.. 

If we set a unit of work around a topic all teaching and learning will be focused and inherently limited. This inadvertently limits our children. If, however, we teach using a conceptual lens, there is no limit to where our students can take it. 

A standard mainstream school in Australia will most likely be following a flat 2D learning framework. This framework is successful in delivering content and building required skills, but does not promote higher order thinking, or cultivate agency (Fig 1). As a PYP school, we approach our teaching and learning using a 3D framework that prioritises conceptual understanding as well as teaching content and building skill (Fig 2).   

Fig 1                                                                      Fig 2

At Holy Trinity, we aim to prepare our students for any challenges they may face in their higher education and future careers. Through teaching conceptually we are building the capacity of our children to be adaptable and dynamic learners. Yes, they will learn all the same content and skills as any other school, but our students will also graduate with the following attributes:

• innovative thinkers,
• effective researchers,
• concise communicators,
• and most importantly, independent and self aware. 

Hopefully this has given you a bit of insight into why we teach the way we do. Stay tuned to future additions of SHINE as we continue to share about teaching and learning in a PYP school. 

PYP IN ACTION