The Approaches to Teaching and Learning (ATL) framework is one of the cornerstones of IB education. It develops not only what students learn, but how they learn — fostering critical thinking, communication, research, social, and self-management skills across every subject.
However, for many IB schools, tracking ATL growth consistently can be difficult. Teachers often assess skills informally, reflections vary by subject, and coordinators struggle to collect data that shows progress over time.
That’s why schools are turning to RevisionDojo. Through reflection templates, analytics dashboards, and cross-department tracking tools, RevisionDojo for Schools makes ATL development visible, measurable, and continuous — without adding to teacher workload.
Why ATL Tracking Matters
The IB expects ATL skills to be integrated across the curriculum, but without systematic tracking, it’s hard to answer key questions:
- Are students improving in targeted ATL skills?
- Which skills are most developed — and which need support?
- How are ATL skills reflected in assessment and reflection data?
- Can we demonstrate ATL progress during IB evaluation?
RevisionDojo connects these dots by embedding ATL reflection and data collection directly into everyday teaching and learning.
Quick Start Checklist: Tracking ATL with RevisionDojo
- Define your school’s ATL focus areas.
- Tag reflections and assignments with ATL skill categories.
- Use reflection templates that prompt students to connect learning to ATL growth.
- Review analytics dashboards to track progress across time and subjects.
- Export ATL reports for departmental or IB evaluation evidence.
This workflow integrates ATL naturally into the learning process — not as an extra task, but as part of the classroom routine.
How RevisionDojo Simplifies ATL Development
1. Reflection Templates Aligned with ATL Skills
RevisionDojo’s reflection tools are designed to help students make explicit connections between tasks and skill growth.
For example:
- “Which communication strategies helped you explain your argument clearly?”
- “How did you manage your time and organization during this project?”
- “What research methods improved the reliability of your findings?”
Teachers can customize prompts by subject or year group, ensuring ATL reflection fits each learning context.
2. Skill Tagging for Visibility and Tracking
Every reflection, assessment, and feedback entry in RevisionDojo can be tagged with one or more ATL skill categories:
- Thinking Skills (critical, creative, transfer)
- Research Skills (information literacy, data analysis)
- Communication Skills (oral, written, visual)
- Social Skills (collaboration, empathy, conflict resolution)
- Self-Management Skills (organization, affective skills, reflection)
This tagging allows teachers and coordinators to visualize how ATL skills are being emphasized and developed across subjects.
3. Analytics Dashboards That Show Real Progress
RevisionDojo’s ATL analytics provide an at-a-glance overview of how students and departments are performing in each skill area.
Coordinators can view:
- Frequency of ATL tagging by skill and subject.
- Improvement trends in ATL reflection quality.
- Correlations between ATL growth and academic outcomes.
This data transforms ATL from a philosophical ideal into a measurable practice.
4. Department Collaboration for Consistent ATL Integration
One of the biggest challenges in ATL development is ensuring consistent understanding across departments. RevisionDojo supports collaborative planning by:
- Allowing departments to view shared ATL analytics.
- Highlighting which skills are underrepresented.
- Facilitating reflection-sharing sessions for best practice exchange.
For example, if communication skills are well-covered in Group 1 but less emphasized in Group 4, coordinators can organize cross-department collaboration to strengthen balance.
5. Student Dashboards That Empower Self-Assessment
RevisionDojo gives students ownership of their ATL development. Their dashboards show:
- Which ATL skills they’ve demonstrated most often.
- Feedback linked to specific skills.
- Reflection history and growth trends.
This visibility helps students understand themselves as learners, reinforcing the IB mission of self-directed, reflective learning.
Case Example: Building an ATL Culture Across a School
Scenario:
An IB school’s evaluation feedback highlights that ATL integration is inconsistent across subjects.
Action Using RevisionDojo:
- Coordinators upload shared reflection templates aligned with each ATL skill.
- Teachers begin tagging assignments and reflections with relevant ATL categories.
- Analytics identify strong development in research skills but lower engagement with self-management.
- PD sessions focus on embedding self-management reflection tasks.
Result:
Within two terms, ATL engagement becomes balanced across departments. Reflection quality improves, and the school presents clear ATL data during IB evaluation — earning commendation for “visible and measurable ATL integration.”
From Reflection to Real Growth
RevisionDojo’s greatest strength is turning reflection into measurable growth. Students and teachers no longer see ATL as abstract — they can track it, discuss it, and celebrate progress.
For Teachers:
- Saves time through built-in reflection structures.
- Provides data for formative assessment and progress reports.
- Builds shared understanding of ATL integration.
For Students:
- Increases awareness of learning habits and strengths.
- Builds intrinsic motivation through visible progress.
- Develops the reflective habits essential for success in TOK, CAS, and the EE.
For Coordinators:
- Offers evidence for IB self-study.
- Highlights professional development needs.
- Demonstrates school-wide alignment with ATL philosophy.
Connecting ATL to the IB Learner Profile
ATL skills are the practical expressions of the IB Learner Profile. RevisionDojo helps schools visualize that connection:
Learner Profile Trait Linked ATL Skill Inquirer Research, critical thinking Communicator Communication, collaboration Balanced Self-management Reflective Reflection and evaluation Principled Social and affective skills
(Displayed in Markdown for CMS safety — no raw tables or HTML.)
These connections help students see that ATL development isn’t separate from IB identity — it is IB identity in action.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can schools customize ATL skill frameworks in RevisionDojo?
Yes. Coordinators can add sub-skills or modify categories to match their school’s ATL focus areas.
2. Can students self-assess ATL progress?
Absolutely. Students can complete self-assessment reflections, which appear in analytics alongside teacher feedback.
3. Does RevisionDojo integrate ATL with assessment data?
Yes. Analytics link ATL tags with performance metrics, showing how skill development influences academic results.
4. Can ATL evidence be exported for IB evaluation?
Yes. Coordinators can export school-wide or departmental ATL reports with reflection summaries and analytics charts.
Practical Tips for Strengthening ATL Tracking
- Start small: Focus on two ATL skills per term to avoid overload.
- Use common prompts: Create school-wide reflection templates for consistency.
- Celebrate skill growth: Recognize students who demonstrate strong ATL progress.
- Collaborate regularly: Use analytics to guide department meetings.
- Embed reflection everywhere: Make ATL reflection part of all major assessments.
The more consistently ATL is tracked and discussed, the more natural it becomes in teaching and learning.
The Bigger Picture: Making ATL Visible and Sustainable
The IB’s Approaches to Teaching and Learning framework was designed to unify education around skill development — not just content delivery. But without structured tracking, its impact is difficult to measure.
RevisionDojo bridges that gap by making ATL growth visible to everyone: students, teachers, and coordinators alike. It transforms reflection into data, and data into insight — creating a learning culture that values growth as much as achievement.
When schools can see their skill development clearly, they can strengthen it strategically.
Conclusion: Tracking Growth, Building Thinkers
ATL development is what turns IB students into lifelong learners. With RevisionDojo, tracking that growth becomes intuitive, measurable, and meaningful.
Through guided reflection, analytics, and shared collaboration tools, RevisionDojo empowers schools to bring the ATL philosophy to life — ensuring that every learner not only knows what they’re learning, but how they’re growing.
To discover how your school can simplify and strengthen ATL tracking with clarity and confidence, visit RevisionDojo for Schools today.
