Term: Competency-based learning (CBL)

In competency-based learning, students are assessed on whether they have the skills and knowledge to perform tasks to a specified standard. They are not compared to other students, or penalised for the rate at which they learned or the number of times they attempted the task before succeeding. The outcome is usually recorded as “Competent” or “Not yet competent”.

Competency-based learning in Australia

Australia’s Vocational Education and Training system (VET) uses a form of competency-based learning. Competencies needed for a range of jobs have been identified and grouped into units of competency which are, in turn, grouped into Nationally Recognised Qualifications. You can view most of these on the national register of VET website. Qualified trainers working for a Registered Training Organisation train and assess trainees (students). The trainee is awarded the qualification when they are deemed competent in all the units of competency for that qualification.

There are several differences between the ideal of competency-based assessment and the version implemented in the VET system.

• Students do not necessarily need to undergo any formal training before being assessed – this is known as Recognition of Prior Learning and students usually have to pay for the assessment. If they provide sufficient evidence of competency, they are deemed competent.
• A second difference is that students do not have unlimited attempts at assessment. After a couple of failed attempts, they must pay for more training and/or attempts.
• A third difference is that trainers, and many graduates of the system working in industry, must maintain currency. This can become onerous as the units of competency and the corresponding qualifications can be updated every few years. Many trainers hold several versions of the same qualification.

Competency-based learning in secondary schools

In Australia, competency-based learning in secondary schools usually involves delivery of a VET course by the school. Some universities offer VET courses, as do some professional associations and industry associations. However, most courses are delivered by government-owned TAFEs or private providers.

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the national regulator for VET.

See also

• Boyer, N., Mason, J., Cleary, M., Navarre, & Telkanp, J. (2021). Competency-Based Education and Learner Self-Direction. International Journal of Self-Directed Learning, 18(2), Article 2.

• Competency-based learning. (2021). In Wikipedia.

• Gervais, J. (2016). The operational definition of competency-based education. The Journal of Competency-Based Education, 1(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10/ghkn8n

• Hoogveld, A. W., Paas, F., & Jochems, W. M. (2005). Training higher education teachers for instructional design of competency-based education: Product-oriented versus process-oriented worked examples. Teaching and Teacher Education, 21(3), Article 3. https://doi.org/10/d2q6k7

• Maguire, A. (2017, August 2). Time-based training and competency-based assessment: How to get the right balance? LinkedIn Pulse.
• Mendenhall, D. R., President, C. F., & University, W. G. (400 C.E., 24:28). What Is Competency-Based Education? HuffPost.

• TeachThought Staff. (2016, April 18). What Is Competency-Based Learning?

• Voorhees, R. A. (2001). Competency-Based Learning Models: A Necessary Future. New Directions for Institutional Research, 2001(110), 5–13.

References

• Voorhees, R. A., & Bedard-Voorhees, A. (2016). Principles for competency-based education. In C. M. Reigeluth, B. J. Beatty, & R. D. Myers (Eds.), Instructional-Design Theories and Models, Volume IV: The Learner-Centered Paradigm of Education . Routledge.