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Joey Lee & Ben Owens
Apr 15, 2021
Ben Owens and Joey Lee advocates for the shift towards Competency-Based Education (CBE) as it aligns better with the true purpose of teaching and learning, offering individualized pathways, active learning with varied pacing, student agency, meaningful assessment, and rigorous learning expectations.
The importance of maintaining focus on the main objectives in educational initiatives is emphasized by Stephen Covey's quote about keeping the main thing the main thing, which acts as a strategic litmus test for assessing the relevance of proposed actions. This principle has led many educators to advocate for transitioning from traditional grading systems to a Competency-Based Education (CBE) approach, aligning better with the essence of effective teaching and learning. CBE revolves around personalized learning pathways, active learning with varied pacing, student agency in decision-making, meaningful assessments providing timely feedback, and clear, transparent learning expectations. The shift towards CBE signifies a departure from conventional practices unsuitable for all students, particularly those historically disadvantaged, prompting educators to explore more personalized instructional methods.
Implementing CBE presents challenges that necessitate substantial investments in time, planning, professional development, and communication to ensure successful adoption and integration with other learner-centered practices. Despite the effort required, schools transitioning to CBE witness significant positive impacts, especially for students previously underserved, emphasizing the transformative potential of such an educational approach. The pandemic has underscored the imperative for educational transformation, driving the urgency for adopting more student-centered practices like CBE to meet the diverse needs of all learners. CBE offers students the opportunity to learn at their own pace, receive tailored support, and focus on personalized learning pathways, ultimately empowering them to take ownership of their education and learning processes. In this era of accelerated change demanding a shift to learner-centered models, the time is ripe to advocate for transformative education, with CBE serving as a pivotal strategy in this journey towards educational innovation and inclusivity.