The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast 249: A Close Look at Competency-Based Learning
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Apr 13, 2025 Join Susie Bell, Heather Messer, and Beth Blankenship as they dive into the world of competency-based learning. Susie leads programming at MTC, while Heather champions personalized instruction in Wisconsin, and Beth coordinates innovative learner records in Virginia. They discuss how this approach redefines grading, focuses on student engagement, and promotes critical thinking. The conversation highlights real classroom examples, the importance of rubrics, and how to support independent growth—transforming traditional educational models.
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From Grade Chasing to Competency
- Heather Messer observed grade-chasing behaviors at a traditional high school.
- This led her to help develop Clark Street Community School's competency-based model.
School-Wide Rubrics vs. Task-Specific Rubrics
- Competency-based teaching uses school-wide rubrics, not task-specific ones.
- These rubrics assess core skills applicable across disciplines, fostering skill transfer.
Steps for Implementing Competency-Based Teaching
- Identify essential transferable skills embedded within standards, like analysis.
- Develop and share rubrics with students that define mastery levels for these skills.