What are the best competency-based education tools and resources for teaching?

Competency-based education (CBE) is a learner-centered approach that focuses on the mastery of specific skills and knowledge, rather than on the amount of time spent in a classroom. CBE allows students to progress at their own pace, demonstrate their learning through various assessments, and receive personalized feedback and support. CBE can be a powerful way to enhance student motivation, engagement, and achievement, as well as to address diverse learning needs and preferences. But how can teachers implement CBE effectively in their practice? What are some of the best tools and resources to help them design, deliver, and evaluate competency-based learning experiences? In this article, we will explore some of the key elements of CBE and share some examples of useful tools and resources for teaching with CBE.

1 Define competencies

The first step in CBE is to define the competencies that students need to develop and demonstrate in a given subject or domain. Competencies are measurable and observable outcomes that reflect the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors that students should be able to perform. Competencies can be aligned with curriculum standards, learning objectives, or industry requirements, depending on the context and purpose of the learning. To define competencies, teachers can use tools such as competency frameworks, rubrics, or learning maps that provide clear descriptions, criteria, and levels of proficiency for each competency. For example, the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN) offers a toolkit for creating competency frameworks, while the Buck Institute for Education (BIE) provides rubrics for project-based learning.

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Moisés Jauregui

Educator | Human-Computer Interaction Researcher | GenAI
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Competencies in Competency-Based Education (CBE) are the foundational building blocks that students are expected to develop and demonstrate within a specific subject or domain. These competencies encompass measurable and observable outcomes, reflecting a comprehensive understanding of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors. Depending on the educational context and purpose, competencies can align with curriculum standards, learning objectives, or industry requirements. Teachers play a crucial role in defining competencies, utilizing tools such as competency frameworks, rubrics, or learning maps to establish clear descriptions, criteria, and proficiency levels for each competency.

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Alexandre Moura

Docente Pesquisador
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Competências podem ser definidas como um conjunto de conhecimentos, habilidades e atitudes. A definição das competências que precisam ser desenvolvidas ao longo de um determinado curso é o primeiro passo para o desenho de um currículo baseado em competências

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2 Design learning activities

The next step in CBE is to design learning activities that allow students to acquire, practice, and apply the competencies in authentic and meaningful ways. Learning activities can include projects, tasks, simulations, games, or scenarios that require students to use their competencies to solve problems, create products, or perform roles. Learning activities should also provide opportunities for students to choose their own learning paths, resources, and strategies, as well as to collaborate with peers and mentors. To design learning activities, teachers can use tools such as learning management systems (LMS), digital portfolios, or gamification platforms that enable them to create, organize, and manage competency-based learning experiences. For example, Canvas LMS offers a competency-based education platform that allows teachers to create personalized learning paths, while Seesaw is a digital portfolio tool that lets students showcase their competency-based work.

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Angelique Schoorens, EdD

Special Education Teacher
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We can’t insist on students choosing their own learning paths when there are significant gaps in foundational skills. Many students don’t know what they don’t know. Student-led and student-guided goals are an ideal that can’t be reached unless we are explicitly building the foundational skills necessary to achieve independence, and I’m not seeing enough educational initiatives that are focused on that.

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3 Assess learning outcomes

The final step in CBE is to assess the learning outcomes that students have achieved through the learning activities. Assessments can include formative or summative, formal or informal, or qualitative or quantitative methods that measure the level of competency that students have demonstrated. Assessments should also provide timely, specific, and constructive feedback and guidance to help students improve their performance and progress. To assess learning outcomes, teachers can use tools such as online quizzes, surveys, or rubrics that enable them to collect, analyze, and report data on student competency. For example, Google Forms is a tool that allows teachers to create online quizzes or surveys that can be linked to competencies, while iRubric is a tool that helps teachers create and score rubrics for competency-based assessment.

Competency-based education is a promising and innovative approach to teaching and learning that can help students develop the skills and knowledge they need for the 21st century. By using the tools and resources mentioned in this article, teachers can design, deliver, and evaluate competency-based learning experiences that are personalized, engaging, and effective.

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Alexandre Moura

Docente Pesquisador
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A avaliação de competências é bastante desafiadora. Para cursos de graduação (e especialmente cursos de pós-graduação), o uso do conceito de Atividades Profissionais Confiáveis (EPAs - Entrustable Professional Activities) desenvolvido pelo Prof. Olle ten Cate, ajuda a operacionalizar o processo de avaliação baseda em competêncais

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Angelique Schoorens, EdD

Special Education Teacher
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An important aspect of collecting this type of data is actually analyzing the data in meaningful ways that guide and direct instruction. Too often in public schools, data is collected for the sake of collecting it with no meaningful discussions about the implications of student data and no protocols for adjusting or supplementing current instruction for students at-risk of falling behind or who are already significantly below grade level expectations. Data is great; data-INFORMED instruction is better.

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4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the best competency-based education tools and resources for teaching?

1

2

3

4

1 Define competencies

2 Design learning activities

3 Assess learning outcomes

4 Here’s what else to consider

Teaching

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What are the best competency-based education tools and resources for teaching?

1

2

3

4

1 Define competencies

2 Design learning activities

3 Assess learning outcomes

4 Here’s what else to consider

Teaching

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