Key Competencies: The Journey Begins

This is a discussion kit based on NZCER’s research with five “early adopter” schools. The seven pamphlets in this kit draw on the stories of these schools as they adapt their curriculum, teaching and learning to focus on lifelong learning. They are intended as a beginning point, or “kick start”, as schools work towards implementing the key competencies.

Pamphlets include:

• The nature of the key competencies
• Why the key competencies?
• “Doing it our way”: how can schools develop their own approaches to the key competencies?
• What do the key competencies mean for curriculum, teaching, and learning?
• Can key competencies strengthen student involvement in teaching and learning?
• Should we assess the key competencies?
• Discussion ideas and further reading and resources.

Posters:

Included in the kit are two copies of two A2 posters designed for classroom use. Called Words That Help us Think, these brightly coloured posters provide students and teachers with examples of how conjunctions enable thinking by helping us put our ideas together and give reasons for them.

Teacher notes are included.