Expanding the Research Base for Competency-based Education

Posted on September 15, 2016March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

AEI has released a new series on Competency-Based Higher Education (CBE), titled Innovate and Evaluate: Expanding the Research Base for Competency-based Education. The authors, Andrew P. Kelly and Rooney Columbus say, “Clearly, the benefits of expanding access to CBE could be substantial. But, what does existing research suggest about the likely effect of reforms to promote CBE? Read more about Expanding the Research Base for Competency-based Education[…]

Competency-Based Teacher Preparation

Posted on March 9, 2016March 4, 2016 by coreeducation

In a recent article in Real Clear Education, Patrick Riccard reflects on the potential for teacher preparation programs to implement a competency-based approach. Excerpts from the article appear below: Demonstrating knowledge and ability should be the key criterion for teachers’ preparation, placement, development, and advancement. Teacher preparation must begin to shift from a “time served” Read more about Competency-Based Teacher Preparation[…]

Continued Progress: Promising Evidence on Personalized Learning

Posted on December 17, 2015March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

The Gates Foundation and Rand Corporation have partnered to create a report focused on personalized learning approaches to education. This report, Continued Progress: Promising Evidence on Personalized Learning, examines achievement in 62 public charter and district schools that are pursuing a variety of personalized learning practices, and examines implementation details in 32 of those schools. Read more about Continued Progress: Promising Evidence on Personalized Learning[…]

The student experience: How competency-based education providers serve students

Posted on September 10, 2015March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

Rachel B. Baker at AEI Education has a new report out about Competency Based Education (CBE) programs at the college level. Following is a portion from the introduction to the executive summary: The basic idea underlying CBE is simple: programs award credit based on demonstrated student competencies rather than on the amount of time a Read more about The student experience: How competency-based education providers serve students[…]

Employer Perspectives on Competency-based Education

Posted on April 17, 2015March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

Competency-based education (CBE) programs are growing in popularity as an alternative path to a postsecondary degree. Freed from the seat-time constraints of traditional higher education programs, CBE students can progress at their own pace and complete their postsecondary education having gained relevant and demonstrable skills. The CBE model has proven particularly attractive for nontraditional students Read more about Employer Perspectives on Competency-based Education[…]

March Issue Brief: Competency- Based Learning

Posted on March 12, 2015 by coreeducation

It sounds simple—make sure students are learning. But as more schools and districts begin to develop competency-based pathways, questions have arisen about the best way to go about implementing these models. Complexities related to student grouping, curriculum design, scheduling, assessment, and grading abound. In this month’s issue brief, we explore various resources, research reports, and Read more about March Issue Brief: Competency- Based Learning[…]

The Carnegie Unit: A Century-Old Standard in a Changing Education Landscape

Posted on February 4, 2015March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has released the results of its two-year study of the influential, longstanding Carnegie Unit and its impact on education reform in K-12 and higher education. The Carnegie Unit: A Century-Old Standard in a Changing Education Landscape, authored by Carnegie’s Elena Silva, Thomas Toch, and Taylor White, describes Read more about The Carnegie Unit: A Century-Old Standard in a Changing Education Landscape[…]

The landscape of competency-based education: Enrollments, demographics, and affordability

Posted on February 2, 2015March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

Competency-based education (CBE), in which credit is provided on the basis of student learning rather than credit or clock hours, is starting to gain traction with educators and policymakers. CBE programs are often touted as a far more affordable route to college credit and a degree, but these claims often fail to account for assessment Read more about The landscape of competency-based education: Enrollments, demographics, and affordability[…]

Big Picture Learning report highlights value of Deeper Learning

Posted on November 7, 2014September 12, 2020 by coreeducation

American Institutes for Research (AIR) has released a comprehensive study evaluating Deeper Learning opportunities and outcomes in high school. The combination of (1) a deeper understanding of core academic content, (2) the ability to apply that understanding to novel problems and situations, and (3) the development of a range of competencies, including people skills and Read more about Big Picture Learning report highlights value of Deeper Learning[…]

Tuning the Rigor of College Programs

Posted on October 23, 2014March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

Recently, the Lumina Foundation released its “Degree Qualifications Profile (DQP).” The DQP is a learning-centered framework for what college graduates should know and be able to do to earn the associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree. The DQP seeks to define quality learning and better signify the value that postsecondary credentials represent, and after nearly four Read more about Tuning the Rigor of College Programs[…]

Progress and Proficiency: Redesigning Grading for Competency Education

Posted on February 17, 2014March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

A new report released by CompetencyWorks, titled Progress and Proficiency: Redesigning Grading for Competency Education, helps education leaders think through how to design grading policies that communicate academic performance to students and parents. As more schools and districts begin to develop competency-based pathways that allow students to progress based on demonstrated mastery of content knowledge Read more about Progress and Proficiency: Redesigning Grading for Competency Education[…]

Competency-Based Degree Programs

Posted on December 17, 2013March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

To ensure that America has the most competitive global workforce, President Barack Obama articulated a goal that, by 2020, every American should continue their educational training after high school so that the United States will increase its proportion of college graduates. This ambitious policy objective will require our postsecondary education system to embrace changes and Read more about Competency-Based Degree Programs[…]

Defining Personalized Learning

Posted on November 18, 2013March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

At the core of the transformation of education toward student-centered learning is the ability to personalize learning for each student, to open student pathways and encourage student voice and choice in next generation education models. To aid classroom, school and state leaders in their pursuit of this goal, the International Association for K-12 Online Learning Read more about Defining Personalized Learning[…]

Department of Education Letter Could Put Cracks in the Credit Hour

Posted on April 18, 2013March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

In an update to the story that this blog has been tracking for some time (see our two past blogs about this subject here and here), the US Department of Education has given its strongest confirmation yet that it is willing to embrace a model of judging educational progress and mastery that transcends the credit Read more about Department of Education Letter Could Put Cracks in the Credit Hour[…]

The Shift from Cohorts to Competency

Posted on February 6, 2013March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

Digital Learning Now! (DLN), in partnership with Getting Smart and the Foundation for Excellence in Education recently released “The Shift from Cohorts to Competency.” This report takes a comprehensive look at the overall shift to competency education and the role of technology to help schools meet the college- and career-readiness goals established by the Common Read more about The Shift from Cohorts to Competency[…]