According to The Glossary of Education Reform, “Competency-based learning refers to systems of instruction, assessment, grading, and academic reporting that are based on students demonstrating that they have learned the knowledge and skills they are expected to learn as they progress though their education.” But what does that actually mean? The answer may be complicated: The Glossary of Education Reform goes on to say, “… there is no single model or universally used approach.”
The benefits, or drawbacks, of competency-based learning (CBL) — also known as competency-based education, mastery-based education, performance-based education, standards-based education and proficiency-based education — are up for debate. Regardless, there are an increasing number of these types of programs, particularly in for-profit colleges. Some ADN nurses who are required to earn a BSN are looking to these programs as a potentially easier option. RNs should do their research to ensure they’re making the right decision for their careers and future.
Seat-Time vs. Mastery
Competency-based education, in short, focuses on mastery of content, not on how long it takes to learn it. For example, a student may master a subject in one month during a four-month semester; whereas another student may not master the subject by the end of the semester. Competency-based programs may seem ideal for working nurses enrolled in online college courses. These students can truly work at their own pace, taking less time and spending less money to earn their degrees.
Not only is saving time a benefit of competency-based learning, according to proponents, but CBL also sets consistent standards of subject mastery. For example, in the traditional model, students can pass a course with any grade between 70 and 100, which quite clearly shows a range of knowledge acquisition. And it can be argued that a student who earns a grade of 70 may not have mastered the subject — after all, different teachers use different grading metrics, as do schools and districts. It is possible, using the traditional method, for a student to graduate from high school lacking basic literacy skills, for example. A “competency-based diploma” would only be conferred after a student achieved competent levels of subject mastery.
Shifting the Role of Instructors
Competency-based learning also changes the role of the instructor. Instructors in the traditional method lecture a set number of times in a semester, setting a specific pace for learning. Because every student learns differently, the instructor’s pace may work for some students but not for others.
The Problems With Competency-Based Learning
But it’s not that simple. As with other educational formats, not every CBE program is of the same quality, not every learner does equally well in this format, and some schools provide programs of dubious value and acceptably. The Glossary of Education Reform notes that some schools “have been accused of offering low-quality educational experiences to students, exploiting students or public programs, and using the popularity of concepts such as ‘competency-based education’ to promote programs of dubious educational value.”
While arguments can be made for both sides, CBL can be a problem for students in ways that have nothing to do with how much they learn. In Robert Mendenhall’s article “What Is Competency-Based Education?” in HuffPost, he says, “While policy makers are praising competency-based education, not enough is being done to ensure that our rules and regulations support it. For example, financial aid rules are generally based on seat time, and accreditation requirements tend to focus on reviews of faculty credentials, course materials, and time measures rather than what students are learning.”
Competency-Based Systems Lack Accreditation
When prospective students choose an online degree program that uses the competency-based system, they may have problems securing financial aid because accrediting bodies are slow to accept competency-based programs. Robert Gibson, Director of Learning Technologies at Emporia State University says, “Many regulatory and accreditation agencies still require credit hours to be mapped to performance examinations.” Students who need to transfer credits to another school may not be able to if their courses were taken at a school that uses a competency-based system because of a lack of accreditation. Licensure can also be a problem for those who are not already registered nurses.
Students who earn their credentials from schools that lack accreditation also run into problems after graduation. Many hospitals and other employers won’t hire nurses with degrees from unaccredited schools, no matter how great the candidate. Many graduate schools will not accept students without a degree from an accredited program, so if those students want to gain advanced degrees (and advanced jobs with higher pay) they may not be able to — unless they’re willing to repeat classes they’ve already taken.
Paul J. LeBlanc, president of Southern New Hampshire University, says, “Online learning has provided a platform for rethinking delivery models and much of accreditation is not designed to account for these new approaches.” Nurses seeking to advance their education should make sure they investigate their options fully before moving forward as a degree from a competency-based system may not offer the best outcomes for nurses.
ADN- and diploma-prepared registered nurses who choose to enroll in UTA’s accredited RN to BSN program can be confident that their BSN degree will enable them to secure the jobs they want and allow them to continue their education. UTA’s baccalaureate degree in nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, as are its master’s degrees in nursing, doctor of nursing practice, and post-graduate APRN certificate.
Learn more about UTA’s RN to BSN online program.
Sources:
The EvoLLLution: Competency-Based Learning: Four Challenges and Impediments
The Glossary of Education Reform: Competency-Based Learning
HuffPost: What Is Competency-Based Education?
CompetencyWorks: What Is Competency Education?
Big Think: Competence, Excellence, and Innovation in Higher Education
Inside Higher Ed: Accreditation in a Rapidly Changing World
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
