2017 presentation at the CBExchange Conference

1. The UW Flexible Option: Lessons Learned in
Delivering Competency-based Programs
Laura Kite, Kim Kostka, Lisa Mihlbauer, Laura
Pedrick, Judee Richardson, Susan Stalewski

2. Learning Goals
– Lessons learned
• Faculty
• Student Support
• Administration
– Understand what it takes to launch and deliver a
CBE direct assessment program
– Best practices to use in developing a CBE
program

3. What is Flex?
• UW Flexible Option
Program
• Led by the University of
Wisconsin-Extension
• flex.wisconsin.edu

4. What is Flex?
Large-scale Academic Innovation
• UW faculty develop academic
content, direct assessments.
• Define mastery level required
according to online learning best
practices, individual disciplines and
University standards.
• Students progress by demonstrating
mastery of discipline-specific
knowledge and skills, measured by
rigorous assessments.
• Self-paced, 3-month subscription
periods, monthly enrollments.

5. Knowledge Skills Ability
Application
& Transfer
Transparent focus on outcomes is key:
-- what’s needed to be successful
-- progressive knowledge measured by scaffolding assessments
Competency Based Education
What do I need to
know and
understand? What
theories or ideas?
What do I need
to be able to
do?
What dispositions
must I display?
Where must I be
able to apply the
knowledge, skills,
abilities and at
what level?

6. Flex to Date
• Since Jan 2014:
– 930 unique students
– 2,429 subscriptions
• Current Active
Subscriptions:
– 367 unique students
• Graduates - 49
Subscriptions
Jan 2014-Sep 2016

7. Lessons Learned: Faculty
• Early development
• Design challenges
• Ongoing faculty development

8. Lessons Learned:
From Delivery of Content to Fostering Student Learning
Within Authentic Assessment, student
masters ability to:
Distinguish main issues within
complex situation.
Analyze solutions leading to
desired outcomes within
complex situation.
Evaluate costs and benefits of
solutions identified, selecting
best for desired outcome.

9. Best Practices: Faculty
• Backward design
• Develop one style
for the learning
guide/syllabus
• Open learning
resources

10. Best Practices: Faculty
• Project-based
assessments
• Explicit rubrics
• https://www.aacu.
org/value/rubrics

11. Best Practices: Faculty
• Feedback
– Expectation of substantive,
constructive feedback on
each assessment
– Turnaround time guidelines

12. Best Practice: Partner with the Library

13. A Flex Faculty Day
• Interactions – more
than you might think!
• Sharing the load
• Rewarding and positive
• Differences from
traditional delivery

14. Lessons Learned: Student Support
How do we support Janet?
• Academic Success Coach
– Intrusive advising model
• A Flex ASC day
• Best practices:
– 1 point of contact
– Hiring considerations
– Ongoing training

15. Lessons Learned: Administration
STUDENT
SUCCESS
Academics
Operations Information
Technology

16. Best Practice: Administration
• Regular communication—retreats, meetings,
teleconferences
• Collaborative problem solving
• Need to network with other institutions
offering CBE programs

17. Why we do this work: The Student Perspective
UW Flexible Option Graduate Carla Lundeen RN, BSN - Nursing

18. Discussion