Skills Builder Global

This content was written by

Mwangaza Muslim Mixed day Secondary School

Context

The school is located in Maralal, Samburu County Kenya. This is a public secondary school that offers the 8-4-4 education system in Kenya. It has learners from the age of 13 to 21

Overall impact

We picked on speaking and listening as our main focus. You notice that Critical thinking and creativity comes in naturally as you engage in speaking and listening. Students, especially in Form 2 have improved in coming up with creative ways of remembering key points from what is taught. They came up with songs in History. We have also had opportunities to highlight the essential skills within the student council, which have come up with weekly themes that they address in the school assembly.

Keep it simple

We have printed the posters and displayed them in all classes to help students understand the language used in Skills Builder. The visual cues are placed alongside other reading material posted in class or on the notice boards

Start early, keep going

Form 2s and the student leadership have had opportunities to practice the essential skills. In form 2, this was mainly used during History lessons.

Measure it

The students used self and peer reflection. They use the Skills Builder Universal framework to check on the essential skill target and impact of the speakers ability to use this on the audience

Focus tightly

The essential skills are included as part of what is to be used in History Form 2 classes.For example students used their speaking and listening skills when they discussed in groups and formulated mnemonics and songs to help internalise the information shared

Keep practising

During History Lessons, students are provided with an opportunity to practice their essential skills by two different teachers who lead these lessons. For the student leadership group, two teachers help them prepare and plan for weekly themes and messages to be delivered across the school.

Bring it to life

The students' leaders applied the skills in speaking during the parents' meeting, public participation for learners and children. We also had students enter for Music festivals where they did poetry and public speaking.

What's next

All teachers are to be trained on the Skills Builder during the school's monthly Action Research session. This way we can ensure we work towards all of our teachers using the common language of the Universal framework and create more opportunities for our students to build their essential skills.

Kenya