Skills Builder Global

This content was written by

Inspiration Academy Agbara

Context

Our school is a small, private institution with around 200 students, situated in a suburban area of Agbara, Ogun State, Nigeria. While English is our main language of instruction, we also offer French and several Nigerian languages, including Yoruba and Igbo. The school has a history of integrating skills-based learning into its curriculum.

Overall impact

The Skills Builder program has had a significant impact on our school community. The program has allowed us to implement a structured approach to skills development. The program has helped us to not only identify and celebrate these skills in our students but also to plan our curriculum in a more focused and intentional way.

Keep it simple

We have created a display on our wall showcasing the essential skills icons and their corresponding language. This allows students to develop their understanding of these skills. Our teachers are familiar with the essential skills outlined in the handbook made available to them. By identifying students demonstrating these skills, teachers acknowledge their efforts. This helps to build a common language and understanding of the essential skills and encourages their application in regular classroom teaching across subjects. Furthermore, teachers utilise questions from the Skills Builder Handbook for Educators to guide classroom discussions and further develop student understanding.

Start early, keep going

We have 6 classes in our secondary school and the students from JSS1-3 and SS1-2 are included in this programme.

Measure it

An offline baseline group assessment of each class was done at the start of the teaching cycle. This assessment helps determine the focus skill and step level for each age group. It is also used at the end of the teaching cycle to check student understanding and progress. We are also continuously assessing progress through questioning reflection and ongoing observations.

Focus tightly

In our first year junior classes began with a focus on Listening Steps and our senior classes Planning Steps 0-12. This year we focused on Creativity, Planning and Problem Solving. We schedule one hour per week to ensure sufficient time for building these skills. Two staff members are assigned to teach the Essential Skills. They utilise lessons from the Skills Builder Handbook and other materials, such as the PowerPoint presentation and additional resources provided.

Keep practising

All other teachers in our secondary school will have a weekly opportunity to attend an essential skills lesson. Resources on essential skills are made available to all staff members. This comprehensive approach builds the knowledge and understanding of essential skills and the Universal Framework for all our teachers. It also empowers them to reinforce the focus skill in subject lessons, giving students opportunities to deepen their learning of essential skills.

Bring it to life

Students participated in team-based projects this session, this provides them with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and discuss links to life outside of the classroom such as in jobs and careers. By the end of the session, each group had developed a community service project. This encouraged collaboration as students had the chance to learn from each other's distinct methods within and beyond their groups. It also fostered healthy competition, a spirit of friendly rivalry that can inspire students to accomplish every step of their designated skill. Overall, this initiative enhanced student and teacher engagement and deepened understanding of the essential skills.

What's next

Now that the school community is familiar with the Skills Builder programme and its impact on this session, we anticipate receiving even greater support from both staff and students to actively participate in the programme next school year.

Nigeria