A comprehensive evaluation and assessment strategy for a competency based curriculum

Abstract

Although not mutually exclusive, there are substantial conceptual differences between a traditional discipline-based and a competency-based education, especially in professional courses. Competencies describe the understanding, skills and professional values required of a student that are essential for employability. Performance measurements have been largely dependent on evaluation of students' performance in Toto via tests, quizzes and assignment submissions. Assessment plays a significant role in influencing a student's academic and career opportunities. A competency based teaching paradigm calls for an individual evaluation of each course learning outcome as specified in the structure or outline of the course curriculum. The learning outcomes of a specific competency need to be assessed using methods that include a series of formative and summative assessments. These measurements can be used as a guide for classifying students' learning abilities and for future improvement of both, the teaching method and the learning process. This paper proposes an individualized assessment scorecard which can be applied to a competency based curriculum design.