Planning with Key Competencies

It is a challenge for facilitators to implement abstract competency framework into learning. One has to choose between different and sometimes also conflicting models of competency description and then describe the competency goals in a realistic and for the participants useful way.

The Framework

Competendo proposes a model that proved in different educational contexts, inspired by the competency model of the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training.

Competendo Key Competences
Abstract Competencies
Task-specific Factual Competence	Identifying adequate solutions for tasks and problems on the basis of knowledge about the specific field, and how it is systematically related within its field and to other fields.
Methodological Competence	Acting consciously, adequately and in a goal-oriented way. An ability to choose methodologies and to evaluate outcomes.
(Inter)Personal competencies
Social Competence	Living in relation to other people and acively shaping social relations. Reflecting different interests, needs and tensions. Team and conflict management skills.
Personal Competence	Acting autonomously, sin a selforganized and reflective way: Observing and evaluating challenges, requirements, or options. Assuming responsibility.

• Our PDF Template: File:Template-key-competencies.pdf
• Task: Key Competency Profile

---

Describing Competencies by Using Active Words

Active Words	Lazy Words
analyze justify explain	getting familiar perceive getting to know with

Lazy words are describing lazy people. Without mobilizing any energy I can perceive something or become familiar with a topic. The following table of active words might offer inspiration for replacing them:

Act Apply Analyze Argue for.. Assess Assume

Categorize Check Choose Collaborate Collect Combine Compare Conceptualize Construct Connect Conclude Criticize

Discuss Distinct Decide Design Develop Diagnose

Estimate Evaluate Explain Express Experiment

Find out Formulate

Illustrate Include Interact Implement

Judge

Label List Localize

Observe Organize Outline

Plan Present

Reflect Repeat Reproduce Remember

Shape State Sketch Solve Support

Test Transfer

Understand Use

Validate Verify

---

Case Study: Empowerment through a Volunteer Project

Organizing a small local project can lead to the development of skills, competencies and knowledge in the organizers and the target group.A team organized an environmental workshop for young people. The participants decided to organize a cleaning event in a nearby forest, where they and their neighbors collected garbage. Now the team examines the chart of the key competencies and tries to describe the educational impact of this project. For your organization, you could define such levels of competence development with the help of this model with greater precision. This will help you later on in describing and validating the development of competencies of your team and target group.

	Example: Acting as an active citizen	Example: Planning skills
Topical expertise	Knowledge about: concepts of civil society the environment	Knowledge about: personal goal setting the team social impact time management
Methodological competence	Active experience with a small project Experience in organizing a workshop	Applying goal setting models Planning teamwork with task plans Applying models of impact description to the project plan Planning the project work by setting milestones, taking into consideration the scheduled appointments and with respect to personal life Incorporating democratic decisionmaking mechanisms
Social competence	Collaboration in a project team Collaboration with youth	An exchanging on individual cooperation styles, discussing different needs Applying the concept to these needs Assigning tasks division based on the specific qualities and needs of team members
Personal competence	Reflecting on one’s own leadership style. Reflecting on one’s personal attitude to civic engagement.	...

After: German "Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training" (BIBB): K. Hensge, B. Lorig, D. Schreiber: Kompetenzstandards in der Berufsausbildung; Abschlussbericht Forschungsprojekt 4.3.201 (JFP 2006)

---

References

---

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

---

Related:

• Planning

---

Also interesting:

• Transversal or Key Competences
• Method Mix

---

Handbook #1
Steps toward action

M. Gawinek-Dagargulia, E. Skowron,
N. Zimmermann

First handbook of our Handbooks for Facilitators: Read more