Peer Learning Activities relevant to this (Thematic) Working Group:
Assessment of Key Competences
Aims and Objectives
There is a substantial activity in European countries to move from 'teaching only knowledge' to a broader competence-based approach that put more emphasis on acquiring also skills and attitudes. In particular, much more attention has been paid for ensuring the cross-curricular competences such as social and civic, entrepreneurship, learning to learn, digital and cultural competences.
In this context the role of assessment is key: for the teacher it has a powerful impact on what and is taught and for the learner it shows what is valued as a learning outcome.
The European Framework on key competences poses three particular challenges to assessment:
- How can assessment capture and promote student's capacity to apply knowledge in authentic situations that require using a broad combination of key competences?
- How can assessment capture and support creativity and problem solving?
- How can assessment include the element of attitudes?
Building on the work of the Cluster 'Key Competences' the Thematic Working Group will organise peer learning activities on assessment at which effective policy measures can be defined, based upon a comparison of the approaches in different countries, and an analysis of research evidence; their conclusions will be disseminated widely to policymakers and stakeholders. Moreover, a policy handbook on the assessment of key competences is envisaged as one of its outputs.
For further reading, see:
- Assessment of key competences: a background paper for the Belgian Presidency meeting for Directors-General for school education, 8 July 2010
- Assessment of Key competences_joint seminar Oct. 2009.pdf
- Key Competences_Synthesis report PLAs 2007_en.pdf
- The report of the PLA Adult literacy jointly organised with the Working group on adult learning (PLA_Adult literacy_Jan. 08_ Final report.pdf).
Background
The remit of the cluster Key Competences - Curriculum reform derives from the 2006 Recommendation on key competences for lifelong learning and the European Framework of eight key competences it introduced.
Participants
21 countries:
Austria, Belgium (BEnl and BEfr), Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Spain, France, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, United Kingdom.
Others:
- CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training)
- Eurydice European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
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