10 Key Components of a Competency-Based Education Program

A four-year degree isn’t what it used to be. Online bootcamps and microcredentials are changing the game for those seeking to enhance their knowledge. This is especially true now that careers are becoming less linear and more dependent on a person’s ability to hone new skills. To stay competitive and attract new students, higher education institutions must be willing to adapt their learning programs. Your institution’s degree and credential programs should focus on helping students master the relevant skills and competencies companies are looking for, ensuring your learners become top applicants. If you’re not already, it’s time to lean into the competency-based education (CBE) model.

CBE requires you to create a competency framework that may contain outcomes, behaviors, skills, or other benchmarks that learners must progress through to achieve competency. Once these pieces are in place, you can begin creating flexible programs that meet learners’ needs and develop their skills. It’s essential that these programs allow students to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in a variety of ways.

CBE programs vary based on factors like the degrees and certifications being offered by your higher education institution and any state and national accreditation standards that must be upheld. There’s room for flexibility to ensure each CBE program can effectively measure learners’ skills and competencies, but in addition to the factors mentioned above, these instructional models typically include the following key components:

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1) Clearly Defined Competencies

Every learner in a CBE program should understand the specific learning outcomes or skills that are being measured, as well as how they’ll be expected to demonstrate mastery of those outcomes at the end of each course. To help learners work towards overall mastery of a specific topic, the competencies should be broken down into smaller skills that build upon each other throughout the course of study. Learners should also be able to clearly see how each competency aligns with industry standards in their field of study, as well as how these skills can be applied in the real world.

2) Personalized Learning Pathways

Unlike traditional learning programs with defined start and end dates, CBE programs give learners the flexibility to progress through the curriculum at their own pace with personalized learning pathways. Personalized learning allows learners to move quickly through familiar concepts and spend more time working on skills that need further development. Learners’ prior knowledge and skills, as well as their individual learning needs or accommodations, help tailor these academic programs to ensure each person develops skills and masters competencies at their own pace.

3) Assessments

Traditional learning, particularly degree programs at colleges and universities, typically assesses learners’ knowledge and skills with one to three exams over the academic term that determine each person’s overall grade. Students progress to their next course of study if their grades meet or exceed the program standards. Assessments in CBE programs occur more frequently and take many forms, including:

• Exams and essays
• Projects and portfolios
• Practical applications of newly learned skills

The goal for these assessments is for learners to demonstrate proficiency in specific skills. The frequency and variety of assessments help instructors ensure that learners have truly mastered the competencies being assessed, as opposed to memorizing information for a final exam that might be forgotten later.

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4) Frequent Feedback and Support

In addition to frequent assessments, CBE programs demand that instructors give learners timely feedback and support to help learners identify their strengths and address their weaknesses. The feedback should be constructive and specific. Leaving a comment like, “Good job!” on an exam isn’t helpful because it doesn’t show the learner what they’ve done well. Instead, instructors should highlight what’s been done well and why it’s correct. Instructors should also guide learners through the educational process by identifying areas for improvement and offering suggestions for how to fix mistakes.

5) Flexible Learning Environments

CBE programs are flexible in terms of individual learning paths as well as how instruction takes place. Flexible learning environments allow students to learn on their schedule as far as is feasible. Learners should have access to course materials in a manner that is conducive to their daily lives and schedules. This can be achieved by offering hybrid or blended programs that combine in-person and online learning components. Completely asynchronous courses can also be included to give learners the freedom to complete their studies and assignments at their convenience.

6) Recognition of Prior Learning

CBE allows learners to move more quickly through degree and certification programs by recognizing prior learning. Every learner enters an academic program with unique background knowledge and experience. CBE models allow institutions to consider and accept prior academic courses, work experience, military service, and other evidence as proof of a learner’s previously mastered skills. Learners can also demonstrate prior learning by taking assessments at the start of a CBE program. Successful assessments would permit the learner to bypass certain aspects of the program and avoid spending time covering concepts they’ve already mastered.

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7) Instructor and Peer Engagement

In CBE models, instructors act as facilitators who guide learners through the educational process. This differs from traditional teaching methods that encourage students to “sit and get” information from instructors giving lectures. As facilitators in CBE models, instructors provide assessments and offer feedback, but they also encourage students to collaborate with peers, share knowledge with each other, and foster a community of practice in which everyone feels comfortable building their skills.

8) Data-Driven Decisions

Due to the self-paced and personalized nature of CBE, data analytics are essential to successful programs. As learners progress through CBE programs, instructors and program administrators can gather data to help them:

• Track learner progress
• Identify trends and potential deficiencies in learning materials
• Determine which learners are struggling
• Implement timely interventions to help learners get back on track

9) Technological Integration

Delivering personalized learning and tracking data requires effective platforms such as learning management systems. In addition to housing learning content, a robust LMS can help learners progress through CBE programs by automatically enrolling them in courses as they demonstrate mastery of specific skills. An LMS with embedded data analytics and reporting capabilities can help instructors and administrators track learner progress and make informed decisions to improve skills-based learning programs.

10) Clear Pathways to Credentials

Learners in CBE programs should earn a recognized credential, degree, or industry-recognized certification that verifies their mastery of the program’s established skills and competencies. The formal credential should signal to potential employers and other professionals that the learner has valuable skills that will be an asset in the workforce.

Leverage a Robust LMS to Deploy Your CBE Model

Your technology decisions will be influenced by:

• Your institutional goals, and
• How you want learners to demonstrate their skills

Your best bet for implementing successful CBE models is to choose a highly configurable digital platform that allows for flexible learning design. Open LMS is one such platform, and it accommodates multiple forms of assessment and content delivery so your learners have many available pathways to achieve success.