Building Transferable Skills

The Ontario Ministry of Education and WCDSB are committed to developing Transferable Skills in all of our learners in order to help our students achieve the highest levels of success in our modern world. Transferable Skills are applicable and to be implemented in all Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum content from Kindergarten to Grade 12. 

Transferable Skills include:

These skills are developed through teaching and assessment practices that are culturally relevant, measure a wide range of learning, and reflect student well-being and inclusion. Additionally, the Transferable Skills are embedded within the Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations so that our Catholic graduates will develop the skills and habits of mind that will prepare them to be creative, connected, and collaborative lifelong problem solvers.

In order to facilitate the development of Transferable Skills in our students, educators at WCDSB are shifting their pedagogical practices and learning environments, accessing learning partnerships, and focusing on inclusion and belonging. Teaching for the development of Transferable Skills means teaching for deeper learning so that students are able to effectively take what they have learned in one situation and apply it to a new situation.

In the 2023-2024 school year, WCDSB elementary schools will be focusing and celebrating a different Deep Learning Skill (that includes Transferable Skills) every month. Stay tuned to your school communications to learn more!

Deep Learning Elements

Our educators are looking for ways to cultivate partnerships between and amongst students, teachers, families, parishes and the wider community. Partnerships between classes within schools and between schools have been developing both within the WCDSB and to the wider community through leveraging digital resources. Partnerships between school and parish are being strengthened by creating more access to parishes for students.

Pedagogical practices are research-evidence based best teaching practices that are used to design, monitor, and assess learning. Effective pedagogical practices are engaging for students, and are differentiated to meet all students’ needs. Teachers are engaged in using both proven and emerging pedagogical practices to support learning and development of transferable skills in all students.

Physical and digital environments affect the way in which students work and learn. Our educators are re-examining their classrooms and other learning spaces within the schools, looking for ways to foster community and collaboration, while creating opportunities to personalize learning based on the needs and interests of their students. This includes setting up areas for small group work, access to technology, flexible seating, maker spaces, and non-permanent work surfaces such as whiteboards.

Inclusion and Belonging in Deep Learning is about creating a learning environment that is conducive to excellence where all students have an authentic voice, are valued contributors, and feel empowered.

Global Competencies and the Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations

Using thinking and reasoning, interpersonal, and intrapersonal skills necessary for effective and ethical participation in teams. Collaborative contributors find meaning, dignity, and vocation in work that respects a diversity of perspectives, the rights of all, and contributes to the common good.

Turning ideas into action to meet the needs of a community by enhancing concepts, ideas, or products to contribute solutions to complex economic, social, and environmental problems.  Creative thinkers are informed by a moral conscience for the common good and use leadership, risk-taking, and independent/unconventional thinking while experimenting with new strategies, techniques or perspectives through inquiry research to build entrepreneurial mindsets and skills that involve a focus on building and scaling an idea sustainably.

Reflecting as a discerning believer on complex issues and problems by acquiring, processing, analyzing and interpreting information to make informed judgments, decisions, and actions in light of the common good. Critical thinkers engage in cognitive processes to understand and resolve problems as they begin to understand their potential as a constructive and reflective citizen.

Giving witness to Catholic social teaching by understanding diverse worldviews and perspectives and responding by promoting peace, justice and the sacredness of human life. Global citizens acquire the knowledge, motivation, disposition, and skills required to engage in solving ambiguous and complex real-world problems that involve human and environmental sustainability.

Developing and demonstrating God-given potential formed in the Catholic faith community by becoming aware and demonstrating responsibility for the process of learning. Self-directed learners develop dispositions that support motivation, perseverance, resilience, self-regulation and a belief in their ability to learn by engaging in self-reflection and thinking about their own thinking.

Communicating effectively, honestly and with sensitivity with others and responding critically in light of gospel values. Effective communicators understand both local and global perspectives, societal and cultural contexts and use a variety of styles, modes, and tools (including digital) in order to appropriately, responsibly, and safely express and receive meaning with regard to their digital footprint.

Videos that Celebrate Global Competency Development

Learning Partnerships

Resurrection C.S.S and 21st Century Learning:

How Learning Partnerships and Leveraging Digital Expand Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication and Transferable Research Skills

Pedagogical Practices

Innovative Teaching to Promote Deeper Learning in Math: Innovating Pedagogical Practices to Develop Collaboration and Critical Thinking

Learning Environments

Holy Spirit Natural Playground: Learning Environments that Promote Collaboration and Citizenship

Learning Environments

St. Matthew School and 21st Century Learning: How Digital Tools Expand the Learning Environment and Allow Students to Explore the World While Building Math Skills, Critical Thinking, Self-Directed Learning, and Collaboration

Leveraging Digital

St. Kateri and 21st Century Learning: Leveraging Digital for Collaboration, Providing Feedback, and Self-Directed Learning

Leveraging Digital

Holy Rosary and 21st Century Learning: Leveraging Digital for Communication, Collaboration, and Citizenship in Writing Stories