Core Skills
Representing a confluence of social, emotional, and academic learning, the Core Skills reflect Ensworth’s commitment to educating the whole child and preparing students for success that extends beyond test scores and grade point averages.
Communicate
- Express ideas articulately, clearly, and respectfully
- Listen receptively without imposing assumptions
- Discern false assumptions
- Provide information concisely and effectively across a variety of modes such as auditory, written, kinesthetic and visual imagery
- Use disagreement in the search for truth
- Support or justify a position with evidence
- Contribute in a manner that moves previous ideas forward
Observe
- Be alert to the achievements and contributions of others
- Be alert to spotting and capitalizing on the unexpected
- Watch for patterns
- Design and employ methods of collecting and recording evidence
- Practice the art of awareness of one’s self and surroundings
Question
- Discern areas that could benefit from further scrutiny
- Ask questions without expecting certain answers
- Employ questions in the search for truth
- Investigate diverse perspectives
- Learn to compose effective questions
Apply Knowledge
- Apply skills and knowledge to new contexts
- Apply deduction (apply general rules to specific instances)
- Exercise independence of thought rather than mimicry
- Be open to the possibility of more than one correct approach
- Translate intellectual concepts to practical applications
- Demonstrate resourcefulness
Hypothesize
- Propose possible solutions to questions
- Apply induction (extrapolate patterns to general rules)
- Enhance creativity
- Develop assertions that can be examined using objective criteria
- Practice language that infers rather than assumes, i.e. “It seems that…”
Evaluate
- Exercise self-reliance in spotting errors and correcting them
- Assess the validity of arguments or solutions, perhaps by using different evaluative methods
- Determine the relevance and value of sources
- Examine one’s own conclusions through the lens of another
- Analyze and interpret empirical data comprehensively
Collaborate
- Marry one’s own talents, skills, and knowledge with the talents of others within a group
- Enhance community culture by supporting others’ achievement regardless of one’s own achievement
- Work as a group to create and obtain goals that would not be individually achievable
- Build an inclusive conversation with all group members