The term “competency-based education” refers to a systems model in which teaching, and learning are designed to ensure students become proficient by advancing onto a demonstrated mastery on a subject through a process-oriented project. Schools are organized to provide timely and differentiated support to ensure equity. Cii provides the methodology and aligns standard by standard by training both teachers and students on process management and providing personalized feedback throughout the process to ensure this mastery. A competency-based structure enables personalized learning to provide flexibility and supports to ensure mastery of the highest standards possible. With clear and calibrated understanding of proficiency, learning can be tailored to each student’s strengths, needs, and interests, and it enables student voice and choice in what, how, when, and where they learn.(1)
In 2011, 100 innovators in competency-based education came together for the first time. At that meeting, participants fine-tuned a working definition of high-quality competency-based education:
Students advance upon demonstrated mastery.
Competencies include explicit, measurable, transferable learning objectives that empower students. Assessment is a meaningful and a positive learning experience for students.
Students receive timely, differentiated support based on their individual learning needs.
Learning outcomes emphasize competencies that include application and creation of knowledge, along with the development of important skills and dispositions.
Cii methods align perfectly with Competency Based Education by teaching students to think through a process to apply it effectively. Through Cii methods, using Lean Six Sigma training, students learn to critically think, project, and statistically measure their process and in the process develop social skills through project research, collaboration, and interaction with the recipient of the project. For example, students working on an MIT Inventor App to facilitate the recycling of materials to help the environment, may go beyond their classroom project setting into school and community, teaching service and citizenship and engaging in different mindsets of critically solving a question/problem.
With Cii methods, students not only develop critical thinking skills, but begin to apply the principles important to business success in strategic process management of a project. Implementing a process is the key component of learning a concept and mastering its application. This builds persistence, challenges the thinking about different sides to a problem and its solution, and considers those impacted by the process. All important life lessons for when students implement these skills outside the classroom.
(1) | Aligning Education Policy with the Science of Learning and Development (INACOL)
