AN INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL CAPABILITIES

Sydney Catholic Schools is working to broaden the understanding of student achievement to include not just what every child knows and understands, but also what every child can do beyond the subject-related skills prescribed in each Key Learning Area (KLA).

The development of capabilities that go beyond specific key learning areas are a necessary part of every child’s educational journey. The development of these skills must be clear and embedded in the delivery of the curriculum.

Various terms are used to describe these skills, such as: 21st century skills, soft skills, learner competencies, learner capabilities, essential skills and employability skills, to name just a few. In Australia, the term ‘capabilities’ has been generally adopted to describe these skill sets.

A learner profile could be a way to provide a rich and detailed summary of what a student knows and can do. It is highly personalised, flexible and allows learners and teachers to see areas of strength, as well as providing information on areas for growth.

What could a learner profile look like?

  • Using evidence from the learner’s time in school, it could showcase their passions, global capabilities and achievement;
  • Student strengths in particular areas can be highlighted that go beyond a subject specific score, including:
    • Global capability achievement
    • Showcase of entrepreneurial skills
    • Successful transfer of skills between subject areas.
  • Micro-credentialing: A key aspect of a learner profile is the accumulation of ‘micro-credentials’, or small chunks of learning guaranteed by an authority that ensure the holder has demonstrated relevant prescribed qualities or achievements.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR SCHOOLS?

Over the next five years, starting in Term 1, 2021, Sydney Catholic Schools will provide all schools with both a mechanism for planning, assessing, monitoring, evaluating, credentialing and reporting students’ progress and achievement with a focus on six global capabilities:

  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Critical Thinking
  • Creating New Value
  • Confident Learner
  • Cultural Capability

  • Consultation and development of a framework based on the above mentioned global capabilities.

  • Testing and validation of the framework; and
  • A call for expressions of interest for schools to participate in the testing and validation of the framework.

Sydney Catholic Schools is excited to be undertaking such a contemporary shift in the focus of learning, and we want you to join us in this new journey.