TITLE:
Competency-Based Education
AUTHORS:
Terry Oroszi
KEYWORDS:
Competency-Based Education, CBE, Education Methodology, Online Learning CBE Model
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.11 No.11,
November
27,
2020
ABSTRACT: Competency-based education (CBE) is an innovative
advance in higher education that organizes academic content or delivery
according to competencies, what a student knows and can manage, rather than
conforming to a more traditional system. CBE offers students the chance to use
past experiences, skills, and knowledge to complete a course, get a degree, or
complete the training needed to pursue their goals. Student debt is increasing,
and academic institutions must transform to accommodate the needs of the new
students. Originally only found at for-profit institutions, a greater number of
non-profit universities are adopting competency-based education because it
offers delineated learning outcomes and appeals to student’s experiences.
Online competency-based education can provide a method to decrease failure in
completion, the flexibility of the program can work with a student’s schedule.
Global demands for virtual options are making it difficult for traditional
universities to resist the online phenomenon. The development of online
competency-based programs requires new approaches to the curriculum design
process. One proven method of CBE instruction was implemented at a medical
school in Ohio, USA. The formula used is outlined in this paper, allowing
others to design their own. The benefits to the student include the ability to
test out of the material they are familiar with and focus only on the new
material. The school will still require the student to take the course, so
revenue is not lost, and they get the benefit of helping their students. In an
era when recruitment stems from word of mouth, the adoption of this method will
encourage others to join the program.