Bancroft-Rosalie School has been utilizing Mastery Learning
concepts for over a decade. The latest buzzword for Mastery Learning is “Competency
Based Education.” I learned that Maine has a state requirement that schools become
“Proficiency Based”, which from what I could tell is not the same as
Competency-Based.
Competency-Based Education transitions away from seat time,
in favor of a structure that creates flexibility, allows students to progress
as they demonstrate mastery of academic content so that students are at the correct level of difficulty and can accelerate their progress through the curriculum. Competency-based strategies provide flexibility in the way
that credit can be earned or awarded, and provide students with personalized
learning opportunities.
These strategies include online and blended learning, dual
enrollment and early college high schools, project-based learning, and credit
recovery, among others. This type of learning leads to better student
engagement because the content is relevant to each student and tailored to
their unique needs. It also leads to better student outcomes because the pace
of learning is customized to each student.
Our current elementary grouping system is based on student
mastery and groups move through the Reading, Language and Math programs at
their own pace. In the secondary
school we have some math students working on an individualized math curriculum
called EdReady. Mr. Elsasser has a few students who are accelerating their math
progress by working at their own pace through Algebra using a program called
Khan Academy. We offer 13 dual credit courses taught at our school for students ready to begin their college early with plans to offer more opportunities at Northeast Community College next year.
By enabling students to master skills at their own pace,
competency-based learning systems help to save both time and money. Depending
on the strategy pursued, competency-based systems also create multiple pathways
to graduation, make better use of technology, support new staffing patterns
that utilize teacher skills and interests differently, take advantage of
learning opportunities outside of school hours and walls, and help identify
opportunities to target interventions to meet the specific learning needs of
students. Each of these presents an opportunity for greater efficiency and increased student achievement.
