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IGI Global contributors discuss competency-based learning as a way of encouraging the joy of learning.

Are Creative Thinking Skills at Risk?

By Taylor Chernisky on Nov 9, 2017
competencybasedlearning Due to the standards of education that are passed down by the government at every level of education, the joy of learning has been replaced by a regimented routine of lessons. This curriculum teaches students how to get from Point A to Point B in one direct thought. It does not teach students how to think creatively or outside of the box. In today’s job market, employers want to hire employees that can demonstrate these skills. Do these standards set students up for failure in the workplace? If so, how can it be fixed?

Dr. Dimitrios Nikolaou Koumparoulis, Instructor of Economics at University of the People, elaborates on this observation, and references a recent research study of the World Bank entitled “Learning Crisis in Global Education”, when he states, “Millions of young students in low and middle-income countries face the prospect of lost opportunity and lower wages in later life because their primary and secondary schools are failing to educate them to succeed in life. Warning of ‘a learning crisis’ in global education, a new Bank report said schooling without learning was not just a wasted development opportunity, but also a great injustice to children and young people worldwide.”

Competency-based learning is one solution to this educational failure. This learning method is a “pedagogical approach that emphasizes proficiency as a measure of learning,” explains Dr. Orly Calderon, associate professor at Long Island University - Post. “It is rooted in policy-based pedagogy that dates back to at least the middle of the 20th century, when it became evident that American students have difficulties mastering basic skills such as reading.”

This pedagogical approach is not only gaining support here in the United States, but across the world.

Professor Luís Barreto, who teaches at the Business Science Superior School at Polytechnic University of Viana do Castelo, explains that in Portugal, there is a school project known as “Escola da Ponte” which brings in teachers that utilize competency-based learning and autonomous learning to “achieve excellent results in [a] school that is settled in a very poor region filled with problematic young people.”

This approach to education is gaining speed due to the benefits of the teaching method. Students on a competency-based learning track will show increased motivation, be able to better manage their time and stress, and be more flexible and ready to compete in the transforming professional environment. This track will allow students to essentially customize their learning plan and learn on their terms.

Dr. Anabela Mesquita, professor at the Institute of Administration and Accountancy (ISCAP)/Polytechnic School of Porto (IPP) in Portugal and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction, states, “More and more, teaching methods should be focused on competences to be developed instead of outcomes. What we want and need is to help students to develop the right competences (instead of learning how to deliver a product / service) since with only these competencies the individual will be able to survive in the professional world and be competitive.”

She continues, “In an environment that is characterized by uncertainty, individuals need to learn how to think, how to adapt, how to be flexible, how to communicate, how to lead a team, how to work in a team, how to look for an answer, instead of producing a specific report or application. […] we need to prepare students to be ready for an environment that we do not know yet how it will be.”

The crux of competency-based learning is the ability to test a student’s proficiency or mastery of a skill before they are able to move to the next learning module. Since many competencies are soft skills, such as leadership or communication skills, that cannot be easily tested, how can students show their competency?

These competencies can be demonstrated through a variety of modes. The chosen mode must fit the nature of the competency at hand.

“I think the Open Badge Movement is a very good way to recognize competencies and life skills,” says Dr. Ebba Ossiannilsson, vice president of the Swedish Association for Distance Education (SADE) and the Swedish Association for e-Competence (REK). As stated on their website, “Open Badges communicate skills and achievements by providing visual symbols of accomplishments packed with verifiable data and evidence that can be shared across the web. Open Badges empower individuals to take their learning with them, wherever they go, building a rich picture of their lifelong learning journey.”

Another method to testing these competencies? Everyday life.

As Mesquita explains, “These competences should be demonstrated day by day, in every situation. Curiosity is not something that we have one day and not the day after. […] I want students that ask questions, that try to find answers, that use technology for that, that challenge the teacher- and this is demonstrated every day and not just on the examination day.”

There are still significant drawbacks to this approach. To be successful in a competency-based learning setting, students will need to be self-directed learners who are motivated to succeed. It can also contribute to the epidemic of teaching to a test, rather than ensuring the knowledge and reasoning of a skill.

Every student within a classroom is at a different level of learning and have different learning styles. Due to these various skill levels, it is sometimes hard to get every student to show the same level of competency, which creates a disadvantage for students who are behind or have trouble learning. Additionally, Calderon explains that this learning approach “neglects to consider the evaluation of underlying holistic learning processes such as critical thinking, appreciation of art, etc.”

Moving forward, competency-based learning systems should be developed so that they have an outlet for students that are having trouble developing and showing their competence. Figuring out a way to combine competency-based learning with a more custom, personalized learning approach would benefit students, and would set them up for success in the long run.

Share your thoughts on this topic with IGI Global on our social media channels! Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. For additional information on competency-based learning, please view the publications below:

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of IGI Global.
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Congratulations for the initiative of preparing and publishing these short news about a particular topic. It was a pleasure to contribute to this one :-)
Anabela Mesquita6 years ago

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