Key Competencies in Leadership and 21st Century Skills

Week 2

Key Competencies in Leadership and 21st Century Skills

Quite a bit of reading this week as well as a video.

I don't think I was born to 'skim' read, for I must of read some paragraphs 5-6 times over.  Some of the reading might as well have been written in a different language because that's how it felt after 3 hours.

However, I did manage to get to 'table 3' and at first it was confusing to look at the 6 principles as a noun or a verb, but with discussion during the workshop, somethings became a little more clearer.

The 'purple' print is where I believe my school is at.  I also think that there could be a lot more purple depending on where you view it from. I didn't feel it was right to make the print purple when I couldn't agree entirely with the written statement, but I do agree with it.  The silver-linning in having so much 'red' print, the journey ahead looks exciting to work towards.

Where is your school at?  Where does it need to go next?
	Knowledge as a noun	Knowledge as a verb
High Expectations	We expect all learners to achieve in our school. We expect each family to take responsibility for the engagement, effort and success of students.	We believe all learners can achieve personal excellence regardless of individual circumstances. We aim to make education relevant and flexible in order to foster engagement and to address the diverse needs of all learners.
Treaty of Waitangi	It is important that students understand the Treaty of Waitangi. We have treaty workshops in years X and y in Social Studies.	Biculturalism is one of our greatest assets in a knowledge economy. A bicultural component is included in all aspects of the curriculum. The Treaty principles of partnership, protection and participation underpin all school decisions and activities. Staff are equipped and willing to uphold a bicultural dimension in all school activities.
Cultural Diversity	We make sure we treat every child the same. We have special programmes to support eSOL students to integrate and to learn our language. We celebrate diversity in dance, music, food and costumes in cultural days.	We aim to know and connect to our students and their communities and to do our best to address their diverse needs and to invite them to be themselves at the school. Linguistic and cultural pluralism are actively encouraged and supported amongst students and staff.
Inclusion	Our curriculum is inclusive, as we do not discriminate against anyone. We create a safe space for our students where we promote and reward harmony, order and the right behaviour.	We see all our students as diverse. We aim to create an environment where difference is viewed as an asset and learners are equipped to engage with different ways of knowing, being and seeing the world. deficit theorising is actively challenged amongst teachers, students and in the school curriculum.
Community Engagement	Whanau and communities are informed about the curriculum and what happens in the school.	Wha ̄nau and communities, as well as staff and students are actively involved in the ongoing decision making process about the school curriculum.
Documentation	(Who decides? In whose name? For whose benefit? Through what process?)	(Who decides? In whose name? For whose benefit? Through what process?)

21st Century Skills

What relevance is the Key Competencies to the 21st Century skills of learning?

These are the 21st Century Skills that ITL (Innovative Teaching and Learning) Research (2012) decided were important.

• Collaboration
• Knowledge construction
• Self-regulation
• Real-world problems / innovations
• ICT for learning
• Skilled Communication

Key Competencies of the NZ curriculum. "More complex than skills, the competencies draw also on knowledge, attitudes, and values in ways that lead to action" (TKI, 2017):

• Thinking
• Using language, symbols & texts
• Managing self
• Relating to others
• Participating and contributing

I guess as a classroom teacher, I want all my learners to be life long learners with skills that they need to be successful in the world.  Where the 21st century is changing so too should our teaching and learning skills to match and prepare every individual.

Some of the 21st century skills and key competencies match, such as skilled communication and relating to others, real-world problems, relating to others and managing self.  All the skills and key competencies are what build creative minds and independent innovators.  In my opinion there is room for both to be taught. However, with the fast changes of technology in our societies and world, we have to be teaching our learners the skills they will need to be an active member of their society.

A quote from the video 'What 60 schools can tell us about teaching 21st century skills' by John Dewey (this information may be incorrect)

'...if we teach today what we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow...'

Whakatauki:

Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei
Seek the treasure you value most dearly: if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain

Reference:

ITL Research. (2012). 21CLD Learning Activity Rubrics. Retrieved from https://education.microsoft.com/GetTrained/ITL-Research

TKI. (2017). The New Zealand Curriculum: Capabilities for living and lifelong learning. Retrieved from  http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/The-New-Zealand-Curriculum#collapsible7

Freeth, W. (2013).Towards Reconceptualising Leadership: The Implications of the Revised New Zealand Curriculum for School Leaders. TLRI.