Keep Calm and Teach English

In 2006, the European Parliament adopted a Recommendation on Key Competences for Lifelong Learning   defining the competences each European citizen needs for personal fulfilment and development, employment, social inclusion and active citizenship. It invited Member States to ensure that their education and training systems are able to equip people with these competences. Since then, European societies and economies have experienced significant changes. To meet these changes there is a new proposal on Key Competences. So what is new? Well, as a start there is a change of terminology as well as of the competences themselves: the term ICT (Information and Communication Technology) is updated and replaced by  DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES    as   it is considered a most appropriate term "to refer to the full range of devices, software or infrastructure. With the increased, varied and embedded use of mobile devices and applications, references to 'comp...

Another interesting MOOC was organised by the European Schoolnet Academy . The course focused on Collaborative teaching and learning. Being able to collaborate effectively is a valuable 21st-century skill, yet teaching about or through collaboration remains rare in schools because of a lack of understanding of what real collaboration in an educational setting means, and because existing policy conditions do not always enable it to flourish. This introductory course provided insights into: What is collaborative learning? How can I carry it out effectively in my classroom? What tools can I use to assess collaborative learning? How can I collaborate with fellow teachers to facilitate collaborative learning? The diary includes some inspiring diaries from fellow teachers attending the course as well as a collection of ideas for collaborative activities, digital tools that can be used in collaborative teaching and lesson plans. Collaborative teaching and learning Cour...

In June 2016, the  School Education Gateway  offered a MOOC on Introducing Project-Based Learning in the Classroom. It was an introduction to the concept of project-based learning (PBL) in order to help us to implement this pedagogical approach in our classroom by providing concrete examples, ideas and tools. We explored three key challenges related to the implementation of PBL: how to get students to collaborate effectively, how to facilitate student-driven activities, and finally how to assess PBL in our classroom. The diary includes links to all the participants' diaries and lesson plans, a real treasure of new and exciting ideas on transforming our way of teaching.

According to the  European Framework of Key Competences  there are 8 basic skills necessary for lifelong learning. They are a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the context and are particularly necessary for personal development, social inclusion, active citizenship and employment. Key competences are essential in a knowledge society and guarantee more flexibility in an increasingly interconnected world. They should be acquired by:  young people at the end of their compulsory education and training, equipping them for adult life, particularly for working life, whilst forming a basis for further learning;  adults throughout their lives, through a process of developing and updating skills.