Title – Attitudes-Based Learning

By – Dr. Alvin Chan Kok Chuen

Primary Subject – Other

Grade Level – Pre-school

The greatest discovery of my generation (about 1900) is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.

William James

‘Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.’

Attitudes-Based Learning (or ABL, for short) is a program initiated in the year 2000 to inculcate positive attitudes and characters in children in Singapore.

The process of nurturing positive attitudes in your students using Attitudes-Based Learning program is not complex. They are simple but effective steps to ensure that your students will slowly but steadily transform the way they behave and feel about themselves. More importantly, family and friends will notice the difference in them in the most positive manner if done right.

The 7-Steps of the Attitudes-Based Learning Process:

There is a sequence of 7-steps that you need to follow in order for ABL to be effective in achieving your desired outcomes.

1. EXPLANATION AND UNDERSTANDING

I. Explain the attitude to be taught to your charges

II. Increase their understanding by giving a few examples about the attitude. Better still, tell a story with the related attitude to be taught and discuss with them

III. Ask them whether they have experiences about the attitude taught to check on their understanding.

2. SHARING EXPERIENCES

I. Get them to share their experiences about the attitude and the related positive behavior

3. SITUATIONS and REFLECTIONS

I. Give them a few situations whereby such attitude can be applied in their lives

II. Ask them what they will do in this variety of situations

III. Get them to reflect upon their actions-are they appropriate or not?

IV. Share your thoughts with them about their actions

V. Tell them what you think is the more appropriate action for each situation

VI. Ask them to reflect on what you have told them-do they agree with you?

4. ROLE-PLAY

I. Create an environment for them to role-play the few situations that are being discussed.

II. Ask them to point out whether the ‘actors’ have acted in an appropriate manner.

5. ACTIVITY (TO REMIND AND REINFORCE THE LEARNING)

I. Give them an activity (could be listening to a story, drawing or singing a song) to reinforce what they have learnt about the attitude. This is to help them remember better the attitude learnt in class.

II. Encourage them to ‘practice’ what they have learnt in class by giving specific situations and appropriate actions they can do in their home, with their family and friends.

6. ACCOUNTABILITY

I. Get them to be accountable for practicing what they have learnt by providing them a checklist of positive actions (usually using pictures to show) for them to remind themselves (or even for their parents to sign the checklist)

II. After a few days, ask them whether they have practiced the positive actions based on the checklist that were given in class.

7. EVALUATION

I. Teacher must periodically keep track that students continue to practice the positive actions taught to ensure internalization of attitudes.

II. The checklist also acts as a measurement to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning process.

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Dr.Alvin Chan Kok Chuen

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