USU Faculty Uncovers Competency-Based Education
In a March 30 Empowering Teaching Education (ETE) seminar at Utah State University, Megan Adams, senior consultant for the Education Advisory Board, explained the current status of Competency-Based Education (CBE), and how it differentiates from the traditional way of earning college credit. CBE awards credit based on the student’s mastery of clearly-defined learning outcomes, often associated with a student’s current professional career.
“In traditional education, time is fixed, and the mastery of a subject is the variable,” said Adams. “In CBE, the content mastery is fixed, and time is variableCBE allows students to focus their majors toward specific careers, and gives them the flexibility to master the content on their own time.”
During the seminar, Adams explained to faculty how other institutions have implemented CBE, giving them an inside look at successes and failures. She said one of the major perks of CBE is the transition away from seat time in a classroom.
According to Adams, hundreds of institutions are evaluating ways to adopt CBE.
“The seminar served to separate the hype around CBE from what’s really working,” she said.
Adams presentation was based on research and information gathered through hundreds of interviews with higher education experts and practitioners.
“The CBE seminar is part of USU’s ongoing effort to be proactive with current and future higher education trends and opportunities,” said Robert Wagner, vice president of Academic and Instructional Services. “Megan did a great job of showing us the current status and condition of CBE, and what it means to our community.”
To view a recording of the entire seminar, visit https://empowerteaching.usu.edu/.
Contact: Reuben Talbot, 435-797-3296, reuben.talbot@usu.edu
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