The document summarizes Bellevue College's pilot of a competency-based education (CBE) model for its Business Software Specialist certificate program. Key points: - The CBE model shifts faculty's role from "sage on the stage" to "guide on the side," working one-on-one with students to guide their learning at their own pace. - The pilot program removed due dates and converted assignments to practice activities, adding final assessments. Students progressed by passing assessments until earning the certificate. - Results were positive, with 86% and 77% completion rates in the first two quarters. Many students earned Microsoft Office Specialist certifications. - Adjustments like self-p

1. Faculty-Only Development Model
(without support from others)
SUZANNE MARKS
BELLEVUE COLLEGE, BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON
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2. CBE Fundamentally Changes the Faculty Role
u Traditional Model - When faculty serve as lecturers, holding scheduled classes
for a prescribed number of weeks, the instruction takes place at the lecturers'
pace. For most students, this will be the wrong pace. Some will need to go
more slowly; others will be able to move much faster.
u CBE Model - Shifts the role of the faculty from that of "a sage on the stage" to
a "guide on the side." Faculty members work with students, guiding learning,
answering questions, leading discussions, and helping students synthesize
and apply knowledge.
Source: Dr. Robert Mendenhall
President, Western Governors University
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3. Business Software Specialist Certificate
u We selected our Business Software Specialist 32- credit certificate
u We wanted a certificate that:
u Was an existing certificate
u Was a popular, high-demand certificate
u Was a certificate that appealed to a broad audience
u That included industry certification
u That had the ability to offer a high-tech, high-touch program
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4. Business Software
Specialist Certificate
Ø 32 credits
Ø 8 courses
Ø 1 Orientation
Ø 5 Office Software
Ø 2 Web/Development
Ø 5 Microsoft Office
certifications
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5. Competency Based
Course Design
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6. What is Competency Based Education (CBE)?
u Define competencies and develop valid, reliable assessments
u Define what students should know and be able to do, and they graduate when
they have demonstrated their competency.
u Getting industry input is essential to make sure that we've identified relevant
competencies.
u Once the competencies are established, we need experts in assessment to
ensure that we're measuring the right things.
Source: Dr. Robert Mendenhall
President, Western Governors University
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7. Aligning Courses to Outcomes
u Our first step was to map our courses to the certificate
outcomes
u Each course outcome must map to a certificate outcome
u Each assessment needed to map to a course outcome
u Each assessment must link to a particular course outcome
u If we were not assessing something, it could not be an
outcome
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8. Course Outcomes
u Course outcomes – Word course
u After completing this class, students will be able to:
1. Create and Manage Documents within a professional business setting
2. Format Text, Paragraphs, and Sections to customize business documents
3. Create Tables and Lists to clearly communicate information in Word
documents
4. Apply References in academic and professional documents
5. Insert and Format Objects to enhance effects and visual perception
6. Utilize intermediate to advanced software features to solve a business
problem
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9. Faculty – How Did We Begin
Conversion to Competency Format?
u Removed all due dates except final assessments
u Converted homework assignments to practice activities
u Added two to three final assessments
u Included a business running case assessment across all courses
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10. Typical Course
u Pre-test to assess prior learning
u Practice, practice, practice
u Post-test to 80%+
u Comprehensive assessment
u Certification assessment
u Grades – A, B, F
Competency or No Competency
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11. Results of the Pilot Project
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12. Student Success in CBO Pilot
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1st Quarter 2nd Quarter
Total Student Count 87 104
Successfully
Completed Course
108/126
86%
96/124
77%
MOS Certifications
Issued
72 53

13. Did we make any adjustments after
the first quarter?
u Yes, we added:
1. Self-pacing Charts
2. Progress Reports (Navigator)
3. Gmetrix Practice Exam, 80%+ for a B grade
competency
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14. Self Assessment
and Pacing
Chart
Examples
ü Self-Pacing Chart
ü Access Pacing
Charts
ü Beginning
ü Intermediate
ü Advanced
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15. 15

16. 16

17. Example Progress Report
Submitted by a Student
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19. Sustainability
u SmarterMeasure (online readiness tool)
u Gmetrix MOS Practice Exams
u MOS Certification Vouchers
u Navigators
u How are we going to pay for these in the future?
u A combo CBE, certification fee
u Still working on navigator fee
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20. Student Testimonials
u Jin-Mei Wang – “Thank you for offering CBO program. The flexible class pacing and without
scheduled homework benefit forced me to be self-disciplined with good time management. Most
of all, I can focus my studying on how to utilize MS Office in my personal life and field of work.
Achieving the MS Office Certificate enhances a student’s job opportunities and future career
opportunities.”
Earned Outlook, Excel and Word MOS certification
u Janell Alameda – took BTS 189, Winter Term – “Absolutely love it, and the self-paced learning!”
u LaShonnu Bolognese – “CBO is amazing… It was so nice to have Suzanne to go to with questions –
she was quick to respond and very helpful. Really like having you Vicky as the Student Navigator to
go to also for questions about the CBO program. Think it is so nice that you follow-up with students
to see how we are doing. I would really like to take more classes in the CBO format – but have
already completed all of the others that are being offered by CBO.” Earned Outlook MOS
certification
u George Le – “The CBO format works very well. What I like about it is that I could learn and take the
course at my own pace. Also not having assignments to actually turn in to be graded was less
stressful. The MOS certification is great since I end up getting my certificate and then am just done
with the class compared to taking a full 11-week class and going week by week doing assignments
and waiting to take a final.” Earned Outlook MOS certification in 3 weeks
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21. Contact Information
Business Technology Systems, Bellevue College
Suzanne Marks, Faculty & Program Chair
suzanne.marks@bellevuecollege.edu
(425) 564-4017
http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/ibit/degrees/certificate/cbo/
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Suzanne Marks