The IB Learner Profile

This page is about the Learner Profile, how i meet the the Learner Profile and how I am an example of the Learner Profile. The IB Learner Profile is who i strive to be.

Inquirer

The definition of Inquirer:

To seek information by questioning; ask:

To inquire about a person

I think I am an inquirer in many ways, through school and out of school. I am an inquirer by wanting to learn more about topics and researching further into them. I have recently joined MUN, because I was interested in it. I wanted to know more about current topics and world affairs. MUN seemed interesting, and in one way I was also being a risk-taker in joining it, since I was trying something new, which I didn’t know a lot about.

I have also recently gotten a job at my swimming club as a coach. I wanted to increase my understanding of the sport and my leadership skills.

During Individuals and Societies at school, our class topic had been the First World War. I found this very interesting so I decided to do extra research at home during my free time. I learnt a lot from this, including facts about my family history, during this time. I learnt that my great grandfather fought in the battle of the Somme during the First World War.

Knowledgeable

The definition of knowledgeable:

Possessing or exhibiting knowledge, insight or understanding; intelligent; well informed; discerning; perceptive.

Going to school already shows that I am knowledgeable, since we go to school to learn and become more knowledgeable. I am knowledgeable in every subject because I know, understand, and I am well informed about many subjects.

I become more knowledgeable, the older I get because I learn more and more everyday. Whether it is many dates and facts about a big event in world history or a life lesson from a mistake, which I shouldn’t repeat. I am constantly learning, exploring, and understanding.

Examples of me being knowledgeable are pieces of work that I have completed at school. I am knowledgeable about the First World War form Ind & Soc, purposes of English writing from English, trigonometry from mathematics and much more from other subjects.

Thinker

The definition of thinker:

A person who has a well-developed faculty for thinking, as a philosopher, theorist, or scholar: the great thinkers.

Everyone in one-way or another is a thinker. Whether you are a good thinker or not is something else. Someone could think about the same thing over and over with no outcome or purpose. I think purposely for a reason, to come up with ideas. I examine and evaluate.

I am required to think in school about topics, facts, pieces of work, or coming up with new ideas. In English our current topic is about a book about the war, however right now we are learning about the purposes of writing. We are obligated to think about different pieces of writing and decide what purpose they have. In other classes for example math we are needed to think to solve problems and complete tasks.

Communicator

The definition of communicator:

A person who communicates, especially one skilled at conveying information, ideas, or policy to the public.

Being a communicator has the same factor as being a thinker. Everyone is a communicator in one way or another, however being a good communicator is different. Being a communicator has a lot to do with public speaking and trying to persuade someone or get him or her to agree with you. Many good communicators do all of these 7 things:

- Get personal 

- Represent facts

- Be specific

- Ask questions

- Ask for clarification

- Listen 

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These are things that public speakers do during for example a debate. Becoming a good communicator takes skill and practice and I believe I am on the way to becoming a great communicator. Currently I think I am a good communicator, yet I could follow these 7 rules/points a bit better. I am being a communicator in almost all subjects where I need to talk publically or convey a message/point. I have also been a communicator in MUN, because this is almost all debating and in the last conference I needed to get up and speak publically a few times.

Principled

The definition of Principled:

Imbued with or having moral principles (often used in combination)

High-principled.

Being principled means being honest, fair, respectful, and responsible. This may be owning up to something you have done or being fair in a debate or generally towards people. This learner profile has more to do with a moral and generally being a good person.

I think that I am principled. I try to do the right thing, in whatever I do. For example in a group discussion I will try and make it fair for everyone. Or in a board game I will make it even so everyone has a good enough chance of winning. Being principled could also have a relation to bullying and doing the right thing in different situations. This could involve telling the truth and standing up for other people and what’s right.

Open-minded

The definition of Open-minded:

Having or showing a mind receptive to new ideas or arguments.

I see myself as an open-minded person because I contribute ideas or arguments, but I also respect and am open to other people’s ideas and arguments. I am open-minded to other people’s beliefs, religions, statements, and opinions.

For example in a group debate I may have many good points and arguments for one side of the argument, yet I must be open to the other side of the argument, and their points. This is also linked to being principled because I must be fair in retrospect to other people, and their ideas. I respect people’s culture’s and personal history and I am open to grow from the experience and listening to other people. I am open to learning about new culture’s, meeting new people and I know when I am wrong.

Caring

The definition of caring:

Showing serious attention; solicitude; heed; caution; protection; charge.

I think I am a caring person. I want others to be happy and I show compassion. I am caring towards people; animals and I care for the planet. Being in the eco-club is a sign of caring. The eco-club’s one motif is to make the school more eco-friendly and help the environment because we care for it.

An example of me being caring to other people would be to help people in need; my friends; my family and to support them when they are going through hard times. I am sensitive to other’s feelings, and I will listen to them when they need me. To be caring for animals I am kind towards them and don’t do things that could harm them like polluting, and to only encourage the well being of animals. Caring for the environment; I could do many things. Which include recycling with bins, paper etc., not polluting the environment, trying to reduce CO² and stop global warming, spreading awareness of the negative effect from humans on the environment. Being caring just means being caring towards someone other than yourself.

Risk-taker

The definition of Risk-taker:

A person or corporation inclined to take risks:

The management trainees were exhorted to become risk-takers.

I believe that I am a risk-taker, and it is something I choose to be. In many subjects and tasks in school I am a risk-taker and outside of school because I am stepping out of my comfort zone.

I have been a risk-taker in school activities such as MUN whereby I must stand up and speak my point countries point and belief where I could make a big mistake. Outside of school I go to a local theatre (Rogaland Theatre). I only recently joined but if some parts come up and I audition and get the part I would be a risk-taker acting in front of many people. I am a risk-taker at swimming because when I go to competitions there is a risk of winning and loosing. I am a risk-taker every time I have an opinion in a discussion at school and I fight for it. 

The warm up, for a swimming competition i recently went to.

Balanced

The definition of Balanced:

Being in harmonious or proper arrangement or adjustment, proportion, etc.

Being balanced doesn’t only mean balancing school, exercise, social life but also knowing when it is enough. And being able to spend the right amount of time on different factors of life.

You could think of life on a balancing scale, with all the factors of life on one dish. Life on one side, being social time, exercise, health and personal improvement, and Work on the other side, whether it being school or work.

For most people work would be heavier than life. Most people say it is impossible to balance work and life without one side being a lot worse than the other, e.g. doing badly at work because you try to balance it with life. However there are many ways where you can balance work and life and still succeed in both. Here is a website with 5 useful tips to balancing work and life: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/protect-health-13/balance-life These may be simple tips, yet if you follow them completely they could be very effective.

I believe I am Balanced in many subjects and school. Yet I could still improve my balance between work and life. I spend too much time on exercise and school, and have almost no time for social time, sleep, or time to myself. Therefor next year I am making a change. I am decreasing the amount of swimming I do every week from 5 sessions, to 3. I also won’t need to participate in every competition, which is what was overtaking my schoolwork. “It’s about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends and family” – Philip Green.

Reflective

The definition of reflective:

To think, ponder, or meditate:

To reflect on one’s virtues and faults.

I think I am reflective in school and outside of school. I can see when I have done well on something and why, and I can also recognize when I could have done better and something and again why. I learn from experience, know my strengths and weaknesses, and understand the past.

For example when I receive an exam back it could go well or badly. If it goes well I will be happy and understand why I received a good or great mark. If it goes badly, I need to be able to reflect upon why I received those grades and notice my mistakes for the future. I can learn from these things and develop as a person. The same can be done outside of school, at after school activities. If I don’t do well at a swimming competition I can reflect upon my technique and realize what I need to improve on.