Understanding Competency-Based Education: Learning While Doing
What you learn in UMSON’s entry-into-nursing and graduate-level programs is guided by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, which focus on competency-based education (CBE). UMSON is leading the nation in re-envisioning its curriculum to incorporate CBE. (And here’s info about what students, specifically, should know about the AACN Essentials.)
What is competency-based education and why is it important?
CBE is a student-centered approach that is built on the science of how people learn and provides multiple opportunities for you to demonstrate and use what you are learning as you learn it.
CBE focuses on preparing you to provide equitable care to diverse patient populations by encouraging cultural competence, understanding of social determinants of health, and the importance of addressing health care disparities.
CBE also:
- fosters personal responsibility for learning
- promotes equity by accommodating diverse learners
- individualizes learning through focused feedback
- enhances relationships between faculty and students
- connects curriculum to real-world scenarios
- fosters collaboration with shared goals
- ensures practice readiness for a seamless transition into the workforce
- promotes personal growth through motivation, collaboration, and lifelong learning.
CBE effectively develops critical thinking and judgment skills in graduates. For entry-into-nursing graduates, this better prepares you to pass the licensing exam and thrive in your nursing career.
What are the key aspects of this type of education?
- Evaluation rubrics with clear expectations to guide your success
- Signature assignments that reflect real-world application
- State-of-the-art simulation, allowing you to practice while you learn
- Faculty who partner with students to meet objectives
- A culture of giving and receiving feedback to encourage your growth
How does this change the way I’ll be taught?
- You’ll be able to understand the connection between your assignments and learning activities and the learning objectives.
- You will learn through active learning strategies, which encourage you to engage deeply with the material, becoming an active participant in your learning process.
- You will learn from mistakes in a safe environment.
- You will have multiple opportunities to demonstrate what you can do, not just what you know.
But don’t take our word for it …