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What are competencies?
Competencies are statements of the characteristics that graduating students should demonstrate which indicate they are prepared to perform and function independently in professional practice. Competencies should include more than just facts. They represent the integration and application of learned facts, skills and affective qualities needed to serve the patient, community and profession. Competencies developed for a program are not taught as a whole, i.e. in a single course, but rather their components are presented throughout the curriculum. Several courses usually assist in the attainment of each competency. The early phase of the curriculum consists primarily of mastering foundation facts and basic skills, but by program completion the parts culminate in the higher level application of these concepts in real-practice situations.
| Traditional time-based | Competency based | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus, structure and content | content: knowledge, skills, attitudes Rotations | Outcomes demonstration of competence Relevant, paced learning opportunities |
| Goal | Knowledge acquisition | Knowledge application |
| Actors | Teacher to Learn | Teacher and Learner Relevant role models |
| Assessment | Evaluation form Norm-referenced Summative | Evaluation portfolio Criterion referenced Formative |
| Program Completion | Fixed time | Variable time |
Doing the right thing at the right time in the right way in complex situations
Higher Education Designed for Professionals
Competency-based education is designed around the critical skills, knowledge, theories, and abilities — or “competencies” — required to master the subject matter in your degree program.
Djagora’s competency-based curriculum is designed for busy, experienced professionals who want to gain the relevant competencies to help advance their career — and in the most efficient and affordable manner.
An observable ability of a professional, integrating multiple components such as knowledge, skills, values and attitudes. Since competencies are observable, they can be measured and assessed to ensure their acquisition
Competency-based Learning Outcomes
- Define the behaviors that the learners are expected to demonstrate upon the successful completion of a learning activity (learning outcome)
- Successfully demonstrate a Performance Indicator
- Concrete, measurable and have the following elements:
- Behaviors: Description(s) of what the participant will be able to do upon successful completion of the course, program, or activity
- Conditions: Situation under which the behavior must be accomplished (e.g., a time sensitive task such as responding to an emergency)
- Standards: Estableshed criteria, against whih to access (e.g., assessment-based certificate programs, certification programs)