Mapping the Rise of Competency-Based Education

By Nan Travers - EvoLLLution. Click here to download The EvoLLLution’s interview with Nan Travers, Amy McQuigge and Mary Beth Lakin.
1. Why has CBE grown so much over the past few years?
Mary Beth Lakin (MBL): There have been converging pressures, challenges and opportunities. There is greater need for more affordable college education, increased access, shorter time to attainment and, from that, the CBE approach has become one of the answers to those challenges. What we’re seeing now is more of an emphasis on “What is learning?” and less of a focus on [seat-time] in a seat in a college classroom. The adult learner population has really changed and expanded in terms of learning experiences and needs.
Nan Travers (NT): As the employment world has been shifting and has become so much more global, it’s harder to get a sense of what somebody knows and how appropriate they are for a position. There’s significant pressure coming to higher education from the employment sectors to really provide better information about a learner and the kinds of knowledge they have in order to help the transition. More...