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Competency Based Education

Competency based education is spreading throughout the world. Governments in all continents are implementing this in different levels of education. This is not an easy task, however. How do you measure competencies in a fair, reliable and transparent way? How do you adequately measure higher order thinking skills? Cito can help you in all phases of the process.

  • Competency based education (CBE) focuses on the student’s demonstration of desired learning outcomes. Mastery of skills is key. A competency based curriculum focusses on what learners are expected to do, rather than on what students are expected to know. Competencies often refer to the higher levels of cognition according to Bloom's taxonomy.
  • One of the main reasons why governments choose for competency-based education is increased student engagement. Students are more engaged in the material because they have ownership over their learning. This makes learning more effective and therefore more cost efficient.
  • Assessing competencies, like problem solving, critical or creative thinking and analytical thinking, requires a different type of testing as opposed to the testing used in more traditional approaches to learning. Cito offers capacity building on competency-based assessment for professionals in education such as teachers, managers and policy makers.
“Purpose of Competency based education”

Do you recognize these issues?

  • "We have developed a new competency-based curriculum. How do we adapt our examinations to this way of learning?"
  • "How can we support teachers in using formative assessment for identifying individual students' needs."
  • "How can we build a system that helps measure individual learning outcomes and helps design personalized learning?"

Tailor-made solutions

Our strength is that we work with you. We listen to you and will do all to understand your specific context, your specific needs and your specific goals. This is, to us, the starting point for delivering complete, integrated services.

Working together

We will always, in consultation with you, appraise how, when and what our support should be. Our objective is to transfer our expertise in handling transitions and/or other types of educational issues so that you will subsequently be able to realise your goals and ambitions. Our consultants can provide remote support, but if preferred, also at your own location.
We won't be satisfied unless you are satisfied.

How can we work together to achieve your goals?
  1. The first step is easy. We get to know each other. You contact us and we arrange an online meeting. In this conversation, we will work with you to clarify your needs and align your goals.
  2. The second step is about being sure our service can deliver a result. When we are sure your request matches with our expertise, we dig deeper, until we are both sure we have fully mapped out the matter at hand.
  3. The third step is about getting started. Within your scope and budget, we can offer a scalable solution, varying from a short informative visit to complete consultancy and support in finding and implementing software solutions.
“Our Services”

Small

Training – Assistance and instruction on specific issues 

For example:
  • Developing competency descriptors
  • Item construction for competency-based tests
  • Developing tools for assessing 21st century skills

Medium

Consultancy – Making plans and getting started

For example:
  • Building a framework for competency-based assessment
  • Creating sample tests
  • Align processes of examination

Large

Consultancy, Training and Implementation – Reaching your goals

For example:
Full implementation of competency-based examination, including all processes and monitoring systems.

Our services

Contact

Feel free to contact us for details.We would be happy to meet with you to discuss how we could work together to create specific solutions for your situation.

Stand alone services

  • Development of framework
  • Audit of existing exams and processes
  • Support in item bank development
  • Support in item writing
  • Data analysis and evaluation

Our experience

  • Kazakhstan: Train-the-trainer in Item and Test Development for Competency Based Assessment Program of Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools Experience
  • Oman, Training for Ministry of Education: training in competency-based assessments
  • Peru: development of new science test: supporting Ministry of Education in development of new test items for implementing and pretesting competency-based assessment (CBA) in Natural Sciences
  • Kenya: consultancy and capacity building in National Assessments for Competency Based Education

How can we help you in your specific situation?