This document discusses competency-based assessment, which focuses on students demonstrating mastery of specific skills and concepts, rather than time spent in class. It is a good fit for challenge-based learning, which aims to develop five core competencies. In this model, assessment should be formative and frequent, with clear expectations and feedback. Employer partners can also provide authentic feedback on competencies relevant to future careers. The document recommends several resources to learn more about competency-based assessment and tools to assess readiness for this approach.

1. Module 5
Facilitating Challenge Case
Exploration
Section 3
Lecture 2: Competency-based Assessment
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2. Competency-based Assessments
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What is it?
While there are many different terms for this kind of assessment
(proficiency-based, mastery-based, performance-based, standards-
based), competency based assessment essentially focuses on
individual student progression toward mastery of specific skills,
concepts, and understandings.
This form of assessment is highly
personalized and assumes
progression based on
proficiency, rather than seat time.

3. Why It Matters in
Challenged-based
Learning
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4. Learning Journey
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Because Challenge-based
Learning focuses on the
development of 5 Core
Competencies, competency based
assessment practices are a natural
fit. Each student’s learning journey
will be different, and student self-
assessment and reflection in each
competency area should play a
large role as students and teachers
establish and monitor learning
goals.

5. In this model, teams should
emphasize formative
assessment, consistency of
expectations and methods
for measurement, multiple
forms of assessment, and
frequent timely feedback.
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Model

6. Engage Employer Partners
Competency based assessment also provides many
excellent opportunities to engage employer partners, as
they can explain why specific competencies matter, share
what expectations and measures look
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like in a workplace setting, and
provide feedback to students on
their progress that is authentic
and relevant to eventual college
and career success.

7. Helpful Readings
To refresh your own understanding (or that of your team), check
out the following resources:
– “Competency-Based Learning or Personalized Learning.” U.S.
Department of Education (2018).
– “What is Competency Education?” CompetencyWorks. iNACOL
(2012).
– “What is Competency-Based Education?” by Dr. Robert
Mendenhall. HuffPost (2012).
If you and your team are interested in assessing your own
readiness for competency-based learning and assessment, this
self-assessment tool developed by the Ohio Department of
Education may be helpful.
– “Ohio’s Competency-Based Education Pilot.” Ohio Department of
Education (2016).
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