The phrase “competency-based education” covers a lot of territory and means different things to different people.  Therefore, it is important to nail down a definition so that all stakeholders engaged in competency-based education at Kirkwood Community College are working from the same definition and are speaking a common language. 

In essence, competency-based education (CBE) is an innovative approach to teaching and learning that ensures all students achieve proficiency in course competencies through self-paced, personalized educational experiences.

What is CBE?

·       Learning is Held Constant: Unlike traditional grading systems where students receive different marks for varying levels of understanding, CBE ensures all students reach a required level of proficiency before advancing.

·       Clear and Transparent Expectations: The definition of "proficiency" must be well-articulated and supported by rigorous, authentic assessments that measure real-world application of knowledge.

·       Personalized Learning: Students can progress at individualized paces through the curriculum and can receive tailored support, such as individualized instruction, one-on-one advising/coaching, the use of adaptive technologies, or credit through prior learning assessments.

Kirkwood’s definition of CBE, which is broadly written to allow flexibility across various disciplines and learning environments, follows:

At Kirkwood Community College, competency-based education is an approach to designing, developing, and delivering curricula and instruction where high-level learning expectations are held constant for all students, where students demonstrate proficiency of targeted learning through authentic assessments, and where the learning experience is tailored to meet the individual needs of each student. 

 

What CBE Is Not!

·       Not a Learning Modality: CBE can be implemented in different formats—face-to-face, online, or hybrid—and is not necessarily tied to a specific instructional method or modality.

·       Not Just Self-Paced Learning: While students may progress at their own pace, time constraints may still exist depending on the course or program structure.

·       Not Correspondence Learning: Unlike independent study models, CBE involves significant faculty and staff support, ensuring students are guided throughout their learning journey.

Competency-based concepts can be applied in different ways at a variety of different levels.  For example, an entire program can be created that reflects the tenets of a competency-based approach.  On the other hand, individualized concepts (e.g., allowing students to resubmit assignments until they demonstrate proficiency, providing students with an open lab to work on specific skills needed to reach proficiency, adopting a proficiency-based grading system) can be applied by individual instructors in specific courses. 

Kirkwood believes CBE can enhance student success by requiring mastery of learning outcomes, using authentic assessments, and providing personalized support. A shared definition of CBE helps the institution develop consistent, high-quality competency-based courses and programs aligned with these principles.