This is a presentation made to curriculum and professional development consultants at AEA267 in eastern Iowa.

1. GAINING COMPETENCE IN
COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION
Jason Ellingson
AEA267
October 14, 2013

2. OVERVIEW
Definitions
 Examples
 Competency development
 Assessments
 Work in Iowa – past, present, future
 States leading the way
 Federal implications
 Work/Support to come
 Resources
 Questions


3. DEFINITIONS OF CBE

What is competency-based education?
Mastery learning
 Proficiency-based learning
 Blended learning
 Personalized learning


Iowa’s definition:

Learners advance through content or earn credit based on
demonstration of proficiency of competencies. Some students
may advance through more content or earn more credit than
in a traditional school year while others might take more than
a traditional school year to advance through the same content
or to earn credit. Credit may also be earned for out-of-school
experiences and/or accomplishments. Students at all grade
levels are afforded opportunities for more explicit or intensive
instruction or enrichment within the content.

4. IOWA’S DEFINITIONS

Competency:


A competency is an enduring understanding that
requires the transfer of knowledge, skills, and
dispositions to complex situations in and/or across
content areas and/or beyond the classroom.
Assessment:

A variety of methods used to determine where students
are in their learning before, during, and after instruction.
All assessments, including examinations, performance
tasks, and other evidence of learning must be
instructionally sensitive and align with the standards.
Assessments, not machine scored, should be scored by
educators appropriately licensed and endorsed in the
grade level and content area.

5. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN A SCHOOL?

Five principles –





Students advance upon mastery
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 learning needs
Learning outcomes emphasize competencies that
include application and creation of knowledge along with
development of important skills and dispositions

6. CBE IS / IS NOT

Is:
Focused on deep essential learning
 Moving after mastery


Is not:


Surface learning
Moving as quickly as possible

7. EXAMPLES OF COMPETENCIES

U.S. History –


Students will understand that technological
advancements have both positive and negative impacts
on the development of American society.
American Literature –

Students will understand that reading nonfiction and
informational texts is an essential means of acquiring,
constructing, and expressing knowledge in all school
subjects and in succeeding in educational, occupational,
civic, social, and everyday settings.

8. EXAMPLES OF COMPETENCIES

Algebra I –


Students will understand that algebra is the language
through which much of mathematics, science, and
technology are communicated.
Physical Science –

Students will understand that energy can neither be
created nor destroyed but can be stored, transferred or
transformed.

9. COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT

New Hampshire uses Understanding by Design
framework to focus on essential learnings

Uses upper levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy

Uses upper levels of Webb’s Depth of Knowledge

N.H. developed a Competency Validation Rubric

10. COMPETENCY VALIDATION RUBRIC

11. HOW IT IS ASSESSED (MASTERY)

This is a great struggle!

New Hampshire is still trying to get consistent
assessments.

Rose Colby and Linda Darling-Hammond

Many states are looking at Common Core

Project-based learning used often

12. TIMELINE OF CBE IN IOWA

December 2011


Spring 2012


CBE task force meetings
June 2013


Iowa Legislative Task Force established
Summer 2012-Fall 2013


CBE Forum, district waiver
Iowa ASCD Conference on CBE
October 2013

Brad Buck mentions customized instruction/CBE as 1
of 3 priorities in School Leader Update

13. IOWA LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE

5 Areas of Focus
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Carnegie Unit to Competency
Assessments/Accountability
Professional Development
Student Learning Plans/Templates
Technology

First report to Legislature in December 2012

Final report to Legislature in November 2013

14. NEXT STEPS IN IOWA

Iowa CBE Collaborative
10 districts to pilot implementation
 $100,000


Additional funds
Write competencies ($100,000)
 Develop assessments ($100,000)
 Create professional development ($100,000)
 Study a data management system ($25,000)


Work with CCSSO Innovation Lab


Focus on college and career readiness
Iowa ASCD Conference on CBE 2014

Partnering with Iowa Dept of Education

15. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IOWA’S FUTURE
Writing Competencies
 Designing Assessments
 Creating a data management system



Coordinating with IHEs



TIES already has a personal learning system
Evaluation of implementation
Teacher / leader preparation programs
Expand pilot program

16. STATES LEADING THE WAY

New Hampshire


Oregon


Race to the Top winner, focus on innovation zones
Wisconsin


Proficiency-based
Kentucky


Proficiency-based
Maine


Nation’s leader, eliminated Carnegie Unit
Personalized learning in CESA 1
Iowa

17. FEDERAL SUPPORT

Race to the Top-District
Focus on personalized learning
 2012 – 16 winners – over $300 million granted
 2013 – grant program just starting

ESEA reauthorization – section focused on CBE
 Concern with the accountability requirements
 Groups –

KnowledgeWorks
 CompetencyWorks
 iNACOL
 National Center for Competency-Based Learning


18. IOWA ASCD WORK GOALS
Working with AEA 267
 Working with AEA 1 to deliver support to districts
 Established a Professional Interest Community
within ASCD to discuss implementation
 Working with National Center for CBL to develop a
partnership for increased support of implementation
 CBE Conference – June 23-24, 2014


19. JASON’S WORK GOALS
Working with CompetencyWorks for blog posts
 Working with KnowledgeWorks on federal policy
implications
 Working with ASCD on Whole Child Initiative
connected with CBE
 Working with iNACOL on developing CBE teacher
leader roles with Iowa’s ed. reform legislation
 Working with National Center for CBL as member of
board


20. RESOURCES AND REFERENCES
Iowa ASCD
 Iowa Dept of Education
 CompetencyWorks
 iNACOL
 KnowledgeWorks
 National Center for Competency-Based Learning
 AEA Agora site
 #iacomped on Twitter


21. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES
Thank you for this opportunity.
 I hope there are more.


My contact info:
Email: jellingson@collins-maxwell.k12.ia.us
 Twitter: @jasonellingson
