The Future of Home Economics Teaching: Teachers’ Reflections on 21st-Century Competencies

Home economics (HE) teachers are obligated to develop their education so that the subject is current and promotes the well-being of the individual, family and larger community. This qualitative study provides insight into the student competencies and skills that Finnish HE teachers perceive to be important in the future and also how HE teaching should evolve to meet these needs. Data about future competencies and teaching practices among Finnish HE teachers were collected during an in-service training session that was organised after recent curriculum changes and updates. An interactive online discussion was used consisting of written reflections of 14 upper-secondary Finnish HE teachers that taught 21st century HE competencies (e.g., housing, textile care, food preparation and consumer skills). They said that this combination of skills promoted pupils’ reflective thinking, which they will need at home, work and in the wider society. Teachers also said that personal development skills help build students’ self-confidence and facilitate the joy of learning, which promotes wellbeing. Teachers valued HE literacy skills including housing and textile care, consumer knowledge and recipe literacy. Teachers also highlighted digital technology skills as important HE skills. Concerning the future of HE teaching, the teachers aimed to reduce teacher-directed lecturing and reduce contents and cooking in their lessons. Instead, they aimed to increase student-
centred learning through the use of suggested pedagogical tools.