Pedagogical and School Practices to Foster Key Competences and Domain-General Literacy

P. 327–365.

Dobryakova M. S., Seel N.

In this chapter, we first review the main principles of pedagogical practices which encourage the development of key competences and literacies, and then we discuss more specific methods which support their particular components. The emphasis is on students and their learning (and on students owning their learning), and not on teachers’ instructional activity to introduce new content. A supportive learning environment is required involving a positive emotional background and ambitious goals for each student. Best learning outcomes can be achieved, if the task of fostering key competences and literacies is embedded into disciplinary learning. Concept-based learning would be a useful approach to structure and explore disciplinary contents, while inquiry-based learning and project-based learning approaches would help design learning situations. Learning tasks should be meaningful and relevant for the students and allow them to link their learning with real-life experiences. Assessment should support learning efforts of students, serve as a feedback mechanism highlighting students’ strengths and weaknesses, their short-term and longer-term personal learning objectives.

Keywords: critical thinking, creativity, key competences, creative thinking, project-based learning, inquiry-based learning, social and emotional skills, text complexity, pedagogical strategies, social and emotional learning, discovery learning, instructional activities

In book

Key Competences and New Literacies: From Slogans to School Reality

Springer, 2023.