What are capabilities?
‘Capabilities’ are becoming increasingly referenced by academics, educators, industry leaders and policy makers.
Capabilities are typically traits or dispositions like creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving and resilience. Australia uses the term ‘capabilities’ but they exist in many international systems under a range of terms, such as ‘competencies’, ‘habits of mind’, ‘attributes’ and ‘dispositions’.
Capabilities play a vital role in global education. Capabilities should be treated with the same respect as other subject areas. The Australian curriculum includes four capability areas:
- Critical and Creative Thinking
- Personal and Social
- Ethical Understanding
- Intercultural Understanding
These are not additional learning areas taught separately to subjects like maths and English – they a core element of traditional learning.
Lucas, B. (2018). Capabilities in Context.
Why capabilities?
Capabilities are the things that allow us to apply knowledge and skills – they are vital for lifelong wellbeing and job success.
Many people think we acquire capabilities like critical thinking, resilience, creativity, problem solving and communication automatically – but this is not the case. We need our education system to support all learners to grow their capabilities, to make sure all Australian children grow up to become capable young adults.
Read the following paper authored by Bill Lucas & Charlene Smith which explores how capabilities make a difference in education and life.
Lucas, B & Smith, C. (2018). The Capable Country. Mitchell Report No. 03/2018
Capabilities in Context- The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
THE VCAA places high importance on building deep familiarity with the capabilities, explicitly introducing capabilities content and consolidating learning and identifying progress in student learning (assessment) related to capabilities.
The following document provides an overview of the capabilities across the Victorian Curriculum F-10.
Want to explore further?
The following page provides further information about explicitly teaching and assessing the capabilities in the Victorian Curriculum.
