Digging deeper into Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes and Values

Let’s look deeper into what we mean when we talk about knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values as learning goals and explore how we might use them to develop learning experiences for our students.

Knowledge

Knowledge as a learning goal can refer to both factual knowledge (e.g. facts, concepts, principles, and theories) and procedural knowledge (e.g. how to do something, use something, and/or apply something). We aim to develop knowledge and understanding of a particular subject, discipline, or topic in our students in accordance with the curriculum that is studied.

Skills

Skills as a learning goal refer to physical and mental abilities and competencies. These can include physical skills (e.g. hand-eye coordination) and mental skills (e.g. critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication), as well as the development of digital skills, such as the ability to use technology for learning.

Attitudes

Attitudes as a learning goal refer to beliefs and opinions that students develop. This can include attitudes towards the subject matter, towards other people, and towards the world in general, as well as the development of positive attitudes (e.g. respect, empathy, and empowerment). Attitudes usually express what students think about something in particular.

Values

Values as a learning goal refer to moral and ethical principles that students develop. This can include the development of positive values (e.g. integrity, responsibility, and fairness), as well as values related to a particular subject matter (e.g. the importance of the environment in Science or an appreciation of evidence-based decision-making in History). Values usually express what students hold to be significant.

Creating an overview of Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, and Values

We can make a very simple map that will show visually the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values we hope our students will develop through a learning experience.

This map might cover a full course or curriculum, a particular project or unit of study, or even a single lesson. We won’t always be focusing equally on all four of these kinds of goals, and the goals that are most important to us will vary based on who we are teaching, the curriculum they are following, and the freedom we have as teachers to develop our approaches to teaching and learning.

A simple map of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values might look like this:

Activity: Mapping the Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, and Values

Think of one class, subject, or course that you teach and produce a grid that shows the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values you want or need your students to develop over the duration of their time working and studying with you.

You can use the Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, and Values Template shown above.

Once you have fully completed the grid, review the ideas you have written down.

Which entry, for each of the four types, do you feel is the most important?

If your students could only take one thing away from their time studying with you what piece of knowledge, skill, attitude, or value would you want it to be?