Curriculum for Excellence

What skills are developed in the technologies?

The technologies provide frequent opportunities for active learning in creative and work-related contexts. Learning in the technologies thus provides opportunities to continually develop, use and extend skills that are essential components for life, work and learning, now and in the future, including planning and organisational skills. Learning in the technologies therefore makes a strong contribution to achieving the aim clearly articulated in Skills for Scotland: a Lifelong Learning Strategy of '…ensuring that Curriculum for Excellence provides vocational learning and the employability skills needed for the world of work and is the foundation for skills development throughout life'.

Well-designed practical activities in the technologies offer children and young people opportunities to develop:

  • curiosity and problem solving skills, a capacity to work with others and take initiative
  • planning and organisational skills in a range of contexts
  • creativity and innovation, for example though ICT and computer aided design and manufacturing approaches
  • skills in using tools, equipment, software and materials
  • skills in collaborating, leading and interacting with others
  • critical thinking through exploration and discovery within a range of learning contexts
  • discussion and debate
  • searching and retrieving information to inform thinking within diverse learning contexts
  • making connections between specialist skills developed within learning and skills for work
  • evaluating products, systems and services
  • presentation skills.

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