Developing the key competencies

The key competencies underpin everything that happens in teaching and learning.

They have implications for all aspects of planning and teaching, including:

• activities, resources, and language used
• content, topics or foci for learning
• the role that both students and teachers take in the learning process
• the culture of the social studies classroom.

What could key competencies look like in senior social studies?

The NZC Key Competencies Online website provides general guidance and indicators on what key competencies could look like in your classroom.

The pedagogy section of this guide suggests a process teachers can use to inquiry into the teaching-learning relationship. Consider how this process can support the development of students’ capabilities in the key competencies – Discussion tool: Teaching as inquiry and the KCs.

Consider what teacher practice looks like in a key competencies-rich programme and what strategies and ideas could support students and teachers as they develop tasks that are part of teaching and learning programmes, and at the same time prepare students for the assessment criteria of the achievement standards.

A social inquiry approach helps students develop self management. Taking social action gives students opportunities to engage in real life issues and is at the heart of the participating and contributing competency.

< Pedagogy

Last updated September 14, 2011

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