the 4ctl learning disposition wheel

The Learning Disposition Wheel is a coherence maker for educators that outlines the dispositions for learning and is a useful scaffold for building metacognition in students

What is the Learning Disposition Wheel?

The Learning Disposition Wheel is based on extensive research in psychology and education and informed by Self-Determination Theory. It is a coherence maker or schema that identifies the dispositions needed for deeper, self-regulated and transferable learning.

These learning dispositions can be learnt and taught through mindfully selected pedagogical processes integrated with curriculum learning. Effective teaching and learning depend on learners developing these dispositions continually throughout their lives.

The Learning Wheel dispositions are:

focus,
grit,
curiosity
influence,
empathy,
teamwork,
think why and how,
make and express meaning,
build new ideas.

These learning dispositions not only allow us to learn deeply and effectively, but they also support us to navigate the complexity and challenges of life itself.

How was the learning disposition wheel developed?

The National Research Council (NRC) 2012 report Education for Life and Work: Developing Transferable Knowledge and Skills in the 21st Century used a substantial research base to identify three broad domains for deeper learning capacity.

The three domains are:

The cognitive - the capacity to think and reason
The intrapersonal - the capacity to self-regulate emotions and behaviours
The interpersonal - the capacity to relate to others.

The NRC report used a classification scheme to describe and align human competencies with these domains and argue that these competencies can be taught and learnt.

Research in Self-Determination Theory also informs our understanding of the Learning Disposition Wheel. This theory of motivation explains how competence, autonomy and relatedness are three basic psychological needs that support the development of agency, well-being and positive learning outcomes.

From this research, 4C Transformative Learning developed a metalanguage for the Wheel, in consultation with education leaders, teachers, students and parents.

Why use the learning disposition wheel in your classroom?

When students are given the language and understanding of the learning dispositions, they begin to build metacognition of themselves as learners. They are more able to identify where they have strengths and not-yet-strengths as a learner, which in turn gives teachers the opportunity to engage learning design that builds student capacity in the dispositions.

Students develop a language around their not-yet-strengths, allowing them to better recognise when they need to ask for help, and giving them the language to articulate the help they need. This is useful across all the K-12 age groups, and has been shown to assist in improved learning, self regulation, agency, improved behaviour choices, classroom management and more.

Examples of the use of the Learning Disposition Wheel in schools

KOGARAH PS

Teachers, Students and Parents Learn to Use the Disposition Wheel to Help Self-Regulate Challenging Behaviour

Teachers at Kogarah Public School use the learning dispositions to help students and parents understand learning strengths and not-yet-strengths, and how to address the behaviour that arises when not-yet-strengths are activated. Read more here.

Kurri Kurri HS

Student Agency Using the Learning Disposition Wheel Improves Student Self Regulation

Kurri Kurri HS students struggling with self regulation while learning are guided through a dispositions-based self assessment. Students develop the language and meta-cognition to grow their dispositions, recognise when they’re struggling and ask for the help they need. Read more here.

Learn more about the learning disposition wheel

We’ve written in depth about the learning disposition wheel in our books (you can find those here) or feel free to contact us if you have questions about how the wheel might be useful in your context.