Learning by competences (I). Identification of competences’ profiles

Abstract

In this essay we analyze the use of teaching units in Vocational Education (third cycle, Chemistry). The teaching units have been designed according to the syllabuses based on educational abilities. Our goal was to identify results related to competences by the assessment of the school actions that had been carried out. These actions were analyzed through an adaptation of the diagram for the analysis of the scientific activity suggested by Echeverría (2002).

Types of knowledge acquired by the students and the influence of the lab instruments in the learning process, were identified. With this, we worked out «profiles» of the acquired competences, both required by the productive sector and the school science. All along the research a concept of teaching emerges, according to which students, teachers and instruments are part of a system whose elements fulfill certain requirements.