{"id":43528,"date":"2019-06-19T15:00:48","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T20:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/?post_type=advice&#038;p=43528"},"modified":"2023-03-17T07:27:00","modified_gmt":"2023-03-17T12:27:00","slug":"6-things-to-know-about-competency-based-learning","status":"publish","type":"advice","link":"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/advice\/6-things-to-know-about-competency-based-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Things to Know About Competency-Based Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recently, we briefly introduced some of the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/advice\/whats-your-education-style-lets-decode-the-terms\/\">different types of learning<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> methods and environments available to adult students. Now, we want to provide some fast facts about one in particular\u2014competency-based education (CBE). <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. Why is competency-based learning different?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As opposed to traditional courses that measure your success and assign grades based on the amount of information you have retained, CBE prioritizes <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/L4Z8vlDDGd4\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">competency over theory<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These courses measure and advance according to <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/advice\/is-competency-based-education-right-for-you\/\">your individual skill level<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, giving you credit for how you actually <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">apply<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> the theory you\u2019ve learned, rather than the number of classes you\u2019ve taken. It focuses on mastering concrete skills rather than becoming an expert in an abstract idea.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students are able to move along at a pace that is comfortable to them, ensuring that they truly grasp what they\u2019re taught and not restricted to set deadlines and terms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>2. How do you progress?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Competency-based learning doesn\u2019t just teach theories or concepts. Students are assessed objectively by their ability to perform a set of skills. These tests may still include multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank exams, but they will primarily measure practical application.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Performance assignments\u2014papers, presentations, and projects\u2014are also assigned and assessed to determine one\u2019s advancement.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Because students have the opportunity to progress at their own pace, there is no official start and end of a term. Each student may spend more or less time on a particular subject than their peers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Students may not advance until they have proven their competency in a certain area.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>3. How much does Competency-Based Learning cost?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For students who are serious about completing their education quickly, one of the most compelling attractors to CBE may be how it is priced. Instead of paying per unit (credit hour), competency-based learning comes at a fixed rate for a given time frame (six months, one year, etc.).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Your goal is to master as many skills in your progression as you can\u2014the more you learn during your subscription, the cheaper your overall costs.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>4. When do you get support?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As with any college course, it is up to you to find out when\/where to get help.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Because course lengths are not rigidly dictated by set schedules, you won\u2019t need to cram yourself into an already busy professor\u2019s office hours schedule. The self-directed method of learning makes it possible to seek out and receive intensive guidance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many competency-based learning programs are offered through \u201copen laboratory\u201d or \u201copen classroom\u201d settings in which professors and\/or lab staff available for support and to answer questions. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>5. Who is it right for?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Competency-based learning is ideal for those who can thrive in an unstructured setting, those who can work efficiently even when they aren\u2019t subject to many deadlines.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Training through CBE can be great for students seeking to move quickly into the workforce. The practice of competency-based learning fits well with the practical requirements of a successful employee; students are not only skillful, but they are also used to a model of continual, lifelong learning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Competency-based learning is likely <\/span><b><i>not <\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">a good option for anyone hoping to enroll in a competitive graduate program after earning their degree. Traditional learning models assess and weigh grades differently, so some schools may find a competency-based transcript\/GPA less competitive.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>6. Where can I find a program?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Abound.college is a great place to start your search. Check out the programs at the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">University of Mary Hardin-Baylor<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">University of Maine at Presque Isle<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and \u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=L4Z8vlDDGd4&amp;feature=youtu.be\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Western Governors University<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to see if any of them look right for you!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>More Helpful Resources:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/advice\/years-of-experience-no-degree-get-hired\/\">I Have Years of Experience, but No Degree. Is That Enough to Get Hired? \u2013 Answers from HR Professionals<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/advice\/7-tips-to-help-you-balance-school-and-work\/\">7 Tips to Help You Balance School and Work<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/advice\/college-credit-for-life-experience-wes-creel\/\">Getting College Credit for Life Experience You Already Have<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/advice\/financial-aid-adult-students\/\">Financial Aid: Funds for Adult Students<\/a><\/p>\n<h6><a href=\"https:\/\/abound.college\/privacy-terms\/\">Disclaimer<\/a>: This article contains affiliate links to products and services. We may receive commissions for purchases made through these links.<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recently, we briefly introduced some of the different types of learning methods and environments available to adult students. Now, we want to provide some fast facts about one in particular\u2014competency-based education (CBE). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":43529,"template":"","class_list":["post-43528","advice","type-advice","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","abound_advice_topics-affordability","abound_advice_topics-student-success","abound_advice_topics-flexible-scheduling","abound_advice_topics-finding-the-right-program","abound_advice_topics-thinking-about-finishing-college"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>6 Things to Know About Competency-Based Learning - Abound: Finish College<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Unlike traditional courses that measure your success, competency-based learning prioritizes competency over theory. Find out if CBE is the right program for you by reading these fast facts.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/abound.college\/finishcollege\/advice\/6-things-to-know-about-competency-based-learning\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"6 Things to Know About Competency-Based Learning\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Unlike traditional courses that measure your success, competency-based learning prioritizes competency over theory. 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