Competencies for Educators

Facilitators are beyond the learners key persons for qualitative learning outcome and enjoyable and inspiring learning processes. No competence-centered learning without a look on the competence of the facitating persons, their performance and output.

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Related:

• The Facilitation Mindset
• What Competency-based learning is...

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Also interesting:

• Facilitation

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Quality

The quality of a training is obviously depending from different circumstances. The educational context and the learning institution contribute to quality outcome. Or quality is relying on supportive outer circumstances in the society or environment. In particular the needs and motivations of the learners influence learners ability to gain competencies.

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Although these are all aspects a facilitator is not primarily responsible for, it is in particular their responsibility to shape conditions that enable qualitative learning. Furthermore, the way of facilitating and moderating has a direct impact on the achievements. The cooperative performance of a facilitator team influences the process leading toward these achievements.

Obviously we need to consider all: the ability of shaping learning conditions in a certain environment, the educator's general ability to accompany and lead a group on their way toward a goal, the specialization or specific mastery in a person. Not to mention, that a team of educators might be aware of their complementary competencies and aim to activate them best. "The quality of trainers – i.e., their professional expertise combined with their ability to perform within an educational framework – has a crucial impact on the quality of the training activities they deliver."

Facilitation Competence

• Shaping the learning space and the appropriate learning conditions
• Accompanying and leading a group toward a goal, choosing and using methodology adequately
• Identifying criteria and assessing success, quality and impact on a meta-level
• Having and extending specific deeper interest, knowledge and experience
• Ability and willingness to use new methodology, approaches and technology in order to improve learning experiences

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Digital Competence

In an era of digital transformation the "ability to use, shape and apply information technology for different purposes and in manyfold societal contexts" (see: Digital Competences) is becoming a necessity and transversal competence. After having in the past focused on the (young) learners, now also the professional is shifting into the focus of competences framework designers and of the educational institutions.

Digital Competences cannot be understood synonymously as transformative competences, but they are an integral part of them. Therefore, we need to prevent a limitation of digital competence to "ICT skills" and extend it toward a holistic understanding of digital competences. On the other hand, not all what the broad public perceives as part of digital competence is necessarily digital by nature, in example curiosity, analytical thinking, problem solving, a proactive mindset or else. If we want to come to a clearer understanding of specific qualification needs in regard to the digital we should differentiate here more precisely.

Areas of teachers’ or educators’ digital competence

• Digital pedagogy – the organisation of the teaching/learning process, giving the feedback, evaluation of the academic achievement with the help of ICT Digital resource management – selection, use and creation of the digital learning and methodological resources

• Communication and cooperation – communication via e-platforms, sharing resources, joint online work with all the participants of the education process (colleagues, pupils, parents, experts, authorities)

• Identity management and safety – responsible behaviour on-line, data protection and privacy, the use of ICT for creating a professional image, the environmentally and health-friendly use of digital tools

• Competence for active citizenship – the use of digital gadgets and applications for influencing social processes, the awareness of equality and inclusion issues in the context of technologies.

Source: Digital Competences of Educators

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Examples for Competency Frameworks for Educators

Similar to frameworks for learners, the competency descriptions fo facilitators, teachers, trainers or educators are following the idea of competency as a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes. They aim to fit to broad range of formal and non-formal educational contexts. Competency Frameworks For Educators

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Featured: ETS Trainer Competencies in EU

The Steering Group of the European Training Strategy of Youth in Action asked for a competency framework for non-formal education, in particular in a youth context and in regard to groups with diverse cultural backgrounds.

This effort is part of the overarching European Training Strategy in the field of Youth of the European Commission. It is caring about quality and acceptance of learning in youth education and youth work in Europe.

The here presented competences for trainers working at international level are one example for a holistic competency set, covering a lot of aspects, we are illustrating in the Competendo toolbox.. The editors and initiators behind the framework are coordinated by the SALTO Training and Cooperation.

Understanding and facilitating individual and group learning processes Selecting, adapting or creating appropriate methods Creating a safe, inspiring learning environment Support learners in identifying and meeting their learning needs and overcoming any barriers Understanding and facilitating group dynamic in a way that is conducive to different ways of learning Stimulating active participation and motivating and empowering learners Promoting creativity, problem-solving and 'out-of-the-box' thinking Effectively managing one's own emotions in training situations Respecting ethical boundaries vis-á-vis learners

Learning to learn Assessing one's own learning achievements and competences Identifying learning objectives and pursuing them pro-actively Undergoing personal/professional development through feedback Acknowledging and dealing with unexpected learning moments and outcomes Identifying and providing appropriate resources to support individual learning

Designing educational programmes Developing an educational approach based on the principles and values of non-formal learning Transferring knowledge or values related to the activity to learners Integrating learners' socio-political backgrounds into the educational programme where relevant, Integrating ICT, e-learning and othr tools and methods into the educational activity Choose and designing appropriate methods for collecting, interpreting and idsseminating information (data, resources, findings, etc)

Cooperating successfully in teams Contributing actively to team tasks Being willing to take on responsibility Encouraging and involving other team members Learning with and from others Being aware of the team processes and how they affect the team's effectiveness Managing disagreements constructively

Communicating meaningfully with others An ability to listen actively An ability to be empathetic An ability to clearly express thoughts and emotions An awareness of identity-related issues Being diversity-aware

Intercultural competence Reflecting acceptance of ambiguity and change Maintaining awareness of one's own identity Showing a willingness and ability to look at identity, culture and related aspects and dimensions from different perspectives Critically reflecting and distance oneself from one's own perceptions, biases, and stereotypical constructions of reality Reflecting and using dicerse ways and methods to increase self-awareness Being able to apply human rights principles

Being civically engaged CONNECTING [YOUTH] POLICIES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES INTEGRATING VALUES AND BELIEFS SUPPORTING LEARNERS IN DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING APPLYING DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES

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References

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Nils-Eyk Zimmermann

Editor of Competendo. He writes and works on the topics: active citizenship, civil society, digital transformation, non-formal and lifelong learning, capacity building. Coordinator of European projects, in example DIGIT-AL Digital Transformation in Adult Learning for Active Citizenship, DARE network.

Blogs here: Blog: Civil Resilience.
Email: nils.zimmermann@dare-network.eu