Competency-Based Education: Examining Educators’ Experiences

Authors

Andrea J. Bingham, University of Colorado, Colorado SpringsFollow
Matthew Adams, University of Colorado, Colorado SpringsFollow
Randall Lee Stewart, University of Colorado, Colorado SpringsFollow

Abstract

Competency-based education (CBE) is an increasingly popular instructional model in K-12 schools. In this qualitative case study, we examine how teachers make sense of CBE, and what challenges they in implementing a CBE model. We find that CBE teachers’ teaching identities had to undergo a shift to truly engage in CBE. Rather than acting as conveyors and assessors of knowledge, teachers had to construct their classrooms in a way that engaged and supported students in owning their own learning. We also found that educators face challenges around time, communication, and alignment.

Keywords

competency-based education, personalized learning, case study

Author Bio(s)

Andrea J. Bingham is an Assistant Professor of Leadership, Research, and Foundations at the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs. Please direct correspondence to andreajbingham@gmail.com.

Matthew Adams is a Ph.D. student in Educational Leadership, Research, and Policy at the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs. Please direct correspondence to madams5@uccs.edu.

Randall Lee Stewart a Ph.D. student in Educational Leadership, Research, and Policy at the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs. Please direct correspondence to rstewar3@uccs.edu.

Publication Date

3-1-2021

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Recommended APA Citation

Bingham, A. J., Adams, M., & Stewart, R. L. (2021). Competency-Based Education: Examining Educators’ Experiences. The Qualitative Report, 26(3), 674-695. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4383