Teaching competences necessary for developing key competences of primary education students in Spain: teacher assessments

Abstract

In Spain the syllabus of primary education students and their future teachers is broken down by competences. As teacher educators we were interested in finding out which teaching competences teachers consider are most necessary to facilitate learning of student key competences. Therefore, we conducted a study with a sample of 286 in-service primary education teachers, using a questionnaire specifically prepared for this purpose. A descriptive and factorial statistical analysis of the resulting data was then performed. The results show that teachers place the highest value on the educational capability to promote student motivation, effort and responsibility in the development of key competences. Also they consider the competence to teach a foreign language as the least necessary. A cross-functional approach, running parallel to the integrating nature of key competences in the school curriculum, was not identified for teaching competences. Finally, certain implications are presented derived from the study.

Keywords:

• teaching competences
• key competences
• initial teacher education
• primary education
• school curriculum

Notes

1. Project PR1/05-13364 (2005): Professional Competences of Primary Teachers in the Community of Madrid: Perceptions and Educational Needs within the EHEA Framework.

Project CCG06-UCM/HUM-1034 (2007): Professional Competences and Teacher Training. Study with Trainee and Working Teachers in the Community of Madrid.

2. Within the framework of the European Union proposal, Spain has selected eight key competences for primary students (ROYAL DECREE 1513/2006 at: http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2006/12/08/pdfs/A43053–43102.pdf):

Linguistic Communication Competence, Mathematical Competence, Knowledge and Interaction with the Physical World Competence (Scientific Competence), Digital Competence, Social and Civic Competence, Cultural and Artistic Competence, Learning to Learn Competence and Autonomy and Personal Initiative Competence.