- What is CBE? Competency based education is a sort of hybrid of standards based grading and personalized learning. Standards based grading is all about measuring achievement on skills and standards vs. a points system based on regurgitation and completion. Personalized Learning puts students in charge of their learning and lets them develop their learning path with a teacher to guide them (totally student centered). I am still confused about competency based education though, and so far I am coming to the conclusion that nobody really knows what it is. Their are "pilot" schools but I think they are more accurately development schools. This initiative gives students control but also measures their progress/achievement through competencies which are set up by teachers/district. Learning takes place any time, any place, any path, and any pace? The five main things to keep in mind with CBE are:
- Students advance upon proficiency
- Competencies include explicit, measurable, and transferable learning objectives that empower students
- Assessment is meaningful and a positive learning experience for students
- Students receive rapid, differentiated support based on their individual needs
- Learning outcomes emphasize competencies that include application and creation of knowledge along with development of important skills and dispositions
- Why CBE? Our current education system is flawed. That just about covers it. Students are motivated by grades, GPA, class rank, and a diploma not learning. Learning has taken the backseat. Teachers assign meaningless work just for the sake of grades. Tests are not measuring learning. Students are lost and are forced to learn what teachers tell them is important and fail to find a passion. We are sending kids into the real world with skills equipped for the 1950's not the 21st century. Basic recall, fact regurgitation should not be the focus, but a lot of times they are. Learning is only taking place within the confines of the school from 8am to 3pm. Teachers are the experts and students are the amateurs. CBE intends to flip all of this and redefine education. Allowing students the to choose a path and change that path based on their needs. It allows students to learn through a process and create. The current system is broken and I think this is a worthy way of switching things.
- When does it start? There are multiple ways to answer this question. It can start now if a teacher so chooses and with the proper support. Why not? Districts are already moving down this road so why hold back when change is needed now. The other way I see this question is when to start with students? My answer ASAP. If students get to 9th grade and are exposed to this, it's too late, many have been funneled down the flawed system for too long and it may take 4 years to get students to think this way. Start them while they are young, curious, and have a passion for learning, with the hopes that passion will carry on. Give student choice early on at the elementary level, and adapt as you go.
- What is important? All of this makes me question what is important in education. Could I be successful today and happy with my life if I had never taken science? Am I more productive because I at one point sat in a geometry class? It's a valuable thought to have. When students start to design their learning we need to quit thinking about content and start focusing on importance. I was an English teacher so naturally I love John Steinbeck, but many of my students can grow up, be successful, and happy without ever having read Of Mice and Men. "Blasphemy" says the old fashioned English teacher. In all seriousness this whole thing makes me question what is important. I hear the term "well-rounded" thrown out a lot. But what does that mean? I can honestly say my little bit of knowledge about Earth science seems pretty meaningless to me now, and 99% of what I "learned" has been forgotten or lost. If a student wants to design a path of learning that is centered and focused on the sciences, is it bad that they back away from literature, social studies, etc. Maybe their passion changes so their path changes and they pick some of that up. This is a lot of change and it won't shift overnight. Bottom line, learning is important.
- What does a teacher do? I like the words guide, adviser, and coach. We all have our expertise in content areas and those students with those path ways are overseen by us. Teachers work as teammates with students. They do not lecture, do not give tests, worksheets, etc. They assist students in the learning process. They give feedback. They help students set up maps for learning and guide students through the process. Crazy thought to wrap your brain around. Why not though? Why can't a teacher be flexible and move from student to student, group to group offering insight, knowledge, and maybe even learn along with the students. Student and teachers work together as a boss and employee should work together to meet a goal. Teachers, in CBE, manage the learning, but don't force the learning.
- What does this all mean? It means change is coming and it may be coming faster than we think. Will you see a major shift next year? No. Next ten years? Hopefully. Next 20 years? We better. We need to start trusting our students and letting them find their passion sooner rather than later. We need to foster the mindset that passion is what drives us. My grandparents worked to make a living and support their family. In today's society we need to equip students with the skills and mindset to not only survive and support, but also mold, create, and be happy with what they do. We have the tools to do it, we just need the mindset.
This post is kind of a reflection and maybe gives some insight into the whole CBE thing. I'm still a little confused, but I like that. It gets me thinking and it sparks conversation which is good for change in education.
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