Beyond Traditional Frameworks
The shift in the focus of imparting knowledge, and with a growing dependence on technology has initiated a need for changing the role of assessment in the country. Bhawna Satsangi, of Elets News Network (ENN) nds out how the changing pedagogy towards the competency-based education will make a difference for the learners in the job market
The competency-based education prepares the learners more effectively for a real workplace environment, which means that the acquisition of competencies takes into account the requirements of companies and the industry. Skill is a transferable competency
The empowerment of technology will change the classroom learning and make it more appealing for students. It is necessary to make the skills of the teachers and the student technologically suitable. Today, technology is available to even a three-year-old child. But for using the technology efficiently and effectively, necessary directions have to be given to leverage the benefits. Nowadays in schools an efficient person is missing who can guide the children on the usage of technology and make them skilled.
There is no single right way for competency learning education. Even with the constraints in operating in the traditional time-based policy context, there is a great variation in design choices that a particular district and its schools are making.
Competency-based learning begins by identification of a specific capability or skill, and then enabling learners to develop the mastery of it at their own pace. The digital age is going to help in making the skill competent over the period of time. Learners can develop the competencies they feel they need or can combine a whole set of competencies into a full qualification with certificate, diploma or degree.
Learning Traditional Paradigms
Sanjay Datta, Principal, Maharana Mewar Public School, Udaipur
The traditional framework showcases the knowledge and teaching of a traditional classroom. The system uses agebased grades to create allies of students that flow through the system. Schools are generally organised into 6-12 standard and post secondary groups. Soft skills, social skills and debating skills are a part of school education. Competency learning is required to break away the traditional methods of learning. The learning objectives act as modules which have suggested resources to obtain the objective, guidance and feedback from a mentor.
The competency-based education prepares learners more effectively for real workplaces, which means that the acquisition of competencies takes into account the requirements of companies and industry. Skill is a transferable competency. Competency-based education encompasses many useful components, making it appealing. A comprehensive plan has several components and can impact multiple levels of schooling. Heemal H Bhat, Principal, Hansraj Model School, New Delhi feels that digital technology comes in handy.
“Digital learning by its very nature has a wide reach. So once the problem of skills is over, which is identified and accepted to be developed, I think the digital age will be started,” says Sanjay Datta, Principal, Maharana Mewar Public School, Udaipur.
Positive Outcomes
The advantages of competency-based learning can lead to high completion rates and high students’ satisfaction. It focuses on the needs of the learner instead on the needs of the institution. Some positive pointers to reflect upon the skill-based learning are:
- The competency-based education develops certain skills among the learners which lead them for good job prospects in future. In this structure learners come to the learning environment as collaborators. The role that exists between teacher and student becomes blurred. The instructor becomes a coach or a facilitator for the learner and the learner sees him as the peer.
- The competency-based programmes open the doors for personalised learning. The learner can ask any query from the facilitator as per his time.
- The programme allows students to utilise prior learning experience in the new style of learning to accelerate the educational process.
- Students can finish the programme in a shorter span of time than the time taken in the traditional form of learning. The fee is charged for a specified time period only which becomes highly affordable for the students.
