The learning is authentic and purposeful; is applicable to real life situations; is culturally and globally relevant and is interdisciplinary helping learners make connections, reflecting the real world.

Learners are taught how to learn and are given opportunities to develop strong metacognitive competencies; they can employ effective and flexible learning strategies; they believe in a growth mindset and that effort leads to success; they are driven by intrinsic motivation and can exercise some degree of choice and control over their learning; learners engage in self-assessment, self-regulation and reflection.

Learners investigate, question, discuss and justify as they develop problem-solving skills and become decision makers; hands on, experiential learning with active, constructive involvement to support student-led inquiry into essential and meaningful questions; learners develop a variety of strategies for possible multiple solutions; they find applications for, and take action on, what they have learned.

There are opportunities for social interaction, cooperation and collaboration with school, local and broader communities; critical and creative thinking skills include opportunities for expressing and evaluating different perspectives and viewpoints; there is a focus on social emotional learning and the development of emotional intelligence.

The learning is challenging and appropriate to individual developmental levels; builds upon their prior knowledge and understanding; takes into account learners’ different starting points, multi-sensory needs and zones of proximal development and makes effective use of timely, constructive, personal feedback in setting and reaching goals.