The Key Concepts
If children are thinking about their learning in isolated elements, I find they really struggle to think of that bigger picture; whereas these common strands help them to draw everything together and really understand the topic in depth.
We use a framework of six big ideas – metacognitive concepts – that are important to consider in any undertaking: for academic study; in business and professional practice; or as member of society. The Creative Education Trust key concepts are structure, pattern, meaning, performance, human interaction and practice.
Knowledge Connected is Creativity
Because one or more of the six concepts influences any situation, the framework gives us a way to connect or compare one situation with the next. This ability to spot or make connections is the essence of creativity.
We were applying the same thing to two different subjects. It shows you different ways of using it, so we were using the same thing for different reasons.
Creative Education Trust schools build the six concepts of Knowledge Connected into the curriculum so that they become creative habits of mind for every pupil in our schools, and tools for life.
The most visible Key Concept activities in school are the Knowledge Connected days: seven off-timetable days across years 7 and 8, each devoted to a single Key Concept.