What is competency-based education (CBE?)
Competency-based education (CBE) is a form of personalized learning that supports all students in achieving deep understanding and application of high academic and personal success goals. It recognizes that students differ in their pace of learning, with some ready for advanced learning before other students are ready. Assessment, particularly performance assessment, is used to verify student achievement and readiness for more advanced learning.
CBE can be adopted at any level of a school system: district-wide, school-wide, grade-level, or even by individual teachers. At any of these levels, CBE might be used with all students or only a subset of them. When implemented well and supported by high-quality assessment practices, CBE helps create equitable learning opportunities for students.
How can a balanced assessment system support a competency-based model?
It takes skilled assessment practitioners who are knowledgeable about the various types of assessment within a balanced assessment system to implement competency-based education well. Teachers and students need just-in-time information for each individual student to know where they are in their learning, and where they are ready to grow. This calls for skilled use of performance assessment (a type of summative assessment) and of the formative assessment process, which includes such elements as self-assessment, peer assessment, and instructive teacher feedback.
Performance assessment is the “item type” of choice when performance in context is being assessed and when the teacher is seeking to create opportunities for authentic demonstrations of products and performances and application of knowledge and skills requiring higher order thinking.
Tools & Resources
Want to be involved in MiPAC?
MiPAC is the Michigan Performance Assessment Cadre. We create and pilot performance assessment items. New cohorts of item developers form every year. Sign up now to receive valuable professional learning while contributing to our growing catalog of performance assessments! We also offer resources and learning opportunities for educators committed to implementing balanced assessment systems that include the use of performance assessments like those developed by MiPAC.