Key Competencies
This page gives access to key NZCER publications and resources relating to the Key Competencies as outlined in the NZ school curriculum. These publications and resources have been written or generated by NZCER researchers. New items will be added as they become available.
Papers, reports, articles, and presentations
"What are the conditions required for standards to not only be used to measure improvement but also to inform student learning and teaching for improvement purposes in the context of national curriculum and assessment reform?" (Klenowski & Wyatt Smith, 2010, p. 108). Isn't this what you might call a "million dollar" question? Many New Zealand schools are currently facing this challenge and asking questions such as this with good reason.
This paper explores theories of learning underpinning the Key Competencies and what these might imply when considering ways to measure progress in, and assess, the Key Competencies. The challenges of using rubrics to describe and assess the Key Competencies are discussed.
This research report provides examples of how some schools have approached the revised curriculum and the Key Competencies, and discusses the processes, tensions, and opportunities of leading and managing curriculum change.
This article provides examples of how some schools have approached the revised curriculum and the Key Competencies, and discusses ways of leading and managing curriculum change.
These conference proceedings provide examples of how schools have approached the revised curriculum and the Key Competencies, and discuss implementation challenges.
This interim research report provides examples of how some schools have approached the revised curriculum and the Key Competencies, and discusses the processes, tensions, and opportunities of leading and managing curriculum change.
This paper discusses the possible purposes for assessing the Key Competencies, and the assessment approaches that fit with these purposes.
This paper overviews the background to the development of the Key Competencies, and explores the scope of each Key Competency.
This research report provides examples of how six schools explored the Key Competencies, and discusses the processes, tensions, and opportunities of leading and managing change.
This paper explores some of the theory underpinning the Key Competencies and what this tells us about possible ways of measuring progress in, and assessing, the Key Competencies.
This article explores some of the theory underpinning the Key Competencies, and how the layers within the Key Competencies link with 21st century views of teaching and learning. The Health and Physical Education learning area is used to present a case for students’ identities and wellbeing as a learning focus.
This paper explores what a focus on the Key Competencies might mean for the learning area of science.
Resources for professional learning and teaching
This resource aims to support teachers to understand the different aspects of the “nature of science” strand, including investigating and communicating in science, and participating and contributing. The booklet suggests many ways to modify activities in science education resources that schools already have, so they link to the NOS strand of NZC.
This resource overviews the Key Competency “Participating and contributing” and provides resources to assist teachers to reflect on the scope of this Key Competency in the classroom and school-wide.
This resource includes teachers’ notes and a board game that aims to assist students to build the Key Competencies, and teachers to explore the fit between the “nature of science” strand of the curriculum and the Key Competencies.
This resource overviews the background to the development of the Key Competencies, explores the scope of each Key Competency, and describes how some schools have approached the Key Competencies.