Desenvolvimento de Competências Transversais nas Escolas: um programa de intervenção

Abstract

In this article we propose a soft skills development program, which was designed to be applied in schools in Portugal to secondary school students and to be guided by teachers or trainers, with the participation of parents and other stakeholders of the community. The approach and the active strategies chosen place the student as the protagonist and co-creator of knowledge, the teacher/trainer as the learning conditions’ creator and facilitator. Problem solving is the active and central learning strategy that guides the whole program, and cooperative learning is another of the strategies applied throughout the sessions. Students are challenged to identify and create solutions to the problems which most challenge them, whether in the school community or in the wider community. Throughout this process, the teacher/facilitator creates conditions for students to develop the necessary transversal skills to solve the identified problems. This program responds to the need to develop soft skills and talent in young people in the education system in Portugal. Through this learning program, we aim to contribute to the creation of learning conditions for young people to prepare themselves for a rapidly changing labor market, to fight unemployment, demotivation and to create conditions to do what they love. In this regard, it is proposed the intervention through the training of young people in solving complex problems, cooperation and active citizenship in the community.