ATLs

ATLs, in education, commonly refer to Approaches to Learning, a framework used by the International Baccalaureate (IB) to describe cross-curricular skills that students develop to become independent, self-directed learners.

The IB organizes ATLs into five categories: Thinking Skills, which include critical and creative thinking; Communication Skills, covering listening, speaking, reading, and writing; Social Skills, involving collaboration and building respectful relationships; Self-Management Skills, addressing organization, time management, and perseverance; and Research Skills, which cover information literacy, data collection, evaluation, and using sources responsibly.

Implementation in IB programs emphasizes explicit teaching of ATLs and their integration into all disciplines. Students practice these skills in classroom tasks and reflections, and teachers map learning objectives to ATL rubrics or checklists to monitor progress.

Assessment and impact: ATLs are assessed through tasks that require applying these skills, along with student reflections and portfolios. The aim is to develop transferable capabilities that support lifelong learning beyond academics.

Scope and history: ATLs were developed as part of the IB's approach to fostering inquiry and the IB Learner Profile. They appear across the IB continuum, from the Primary Years Programme to the Diploma Programme, and are used by many IB-authorized schools worldwide.

Other uses: The acronym ATLs can stand for other terms in different fields, but in education the most common reference is Approaches to Learning in the IB framework.