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Acknowledging Competencies

Assessing competencies via a grade or % is not really an option as they are value laden and complex in their makeup. The best way to provide effective feedback on competencies is to encourage learners to metacognitively reflect on their own competency and educators to acknowledge these reflections. Be specific as to what you want them to reflect on and provide a language set to guide them in their reflections.

The best tool to enable this is the use of online electronic portfolios. (see www.knowledge.net.nz for more information).

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Language sets

Reflecting on competencies requires a new language set and educators will need to provide considerable opportunity for learners to develop this language set so that they are able to describe their own competencies.

Below are some language sets built around the taxonomy structure developed by John West-Burnham. These language sets are designed to be used by educators not by learners; they need their own revised sets!

1. All knowledge is situational and is wrapped in attitudes, qualities and values.
2. Context is everything! All actions whether based on knowledge, thinking (cognitive skills); Attitudes, Values & Ethics; or Emotions and Motivations is totally dependent on the context. Inappropriate thinking and actions in one context may be appropriate in another and vice versa.
3. Thinking is central to all competencies.
4. Assessing all the competencies would be a nightmare. This is about monitoring progress of specific competencies and using a common language to describe the capability of the learner at a given point in time in regard to that competency area.

Educator Competency Taxonomies for Year 6-9

Managing Self	surface	deep	profound
Knowledge & Practical Skills
Time Management	Organised	Efficient	Effective
Autonomy	Independence	Interdependence	Synergetic
Project Management	Logical	Systematic	Adaptive
Goal Setting	Achievable	Challenging	Visionary
Strategy Awareness	Deliberate	Planned	Strategic
Cognitive Skills
Perseverance/ Concentration	Diligent	Persistent	Tenacious
Self Discipline	Sensible	Self controlled	Scrupulous
Metacognition	Contemplative	Perceptive	Discerning
Logical Thinking	Common-sense	Deductive	Astute
Attitudes, Values & Ethics
Resilience	Persistent	Steadfast	Resolute
Outlook	Pragmatic	Hopeful	Optimistic
Reliability	Consistent	Dependable	Trustworthy
Dependability	Reliable	Steadfast	Loyal
Emotions & Motivation
Motivation	Extrinsic	Intrinsic	Moral
Identity	Cultural/Ethnic	Relational	Holistic
Commitment	Obligated	Enthusiastic	Passionate
Creativity	Resourceful	Ingenious	Enterprising
Curiosity	Accepting	Curious	Amazed