Proficiency-based learning is an educational strategy that requires students to meet specific standards set by their school, district, or state. Assessments are skill-based, and all the standards students are assessed on are measurable goals. Students are given clear expectations for learning based on transferable skills.
Student standards can differ from state to state and district to district, but public schools typically rely on state learning standards.
Proficiency-based learning is also known as:
- Competency-based learning
- Mastery-based learning
- Outcome-based learning
- Performance-based learning
The main goal of proficiency-based learning is to ensure that more students truly master the skills that they’re being taught by their teachers before they are allowed to advance to the next grade or receive a diploma. Proficiency-based learning is the opposite of the traditional grading scale that relies on letters (usually “A-F”) to determine which students pass and which ones do not. The problem with the traditional system is that students who earn grades “A-D” are all considered passing, but students who receive an “A” have clearly mastered the material better than those who receive a “D.” And yet, they’re all allowed to move forward in their education. Is that fair? Is it right? Proficiency-based learning can help identify and remove these gaps in students’ education.
Many colleges and universities are working towards this style of learning and assessment and away from traditional credits and grades. This means that elementary, middle, and high schools must also incorporate standards-based learning to prepare their students for higher education.
Why Is Proficiency-Based Learning a Necessity?
Research has shown that, especially since the pandemic, there has been an increase in students completing below-grade-level work. Teachers are struggling to meet students’ individual needs, and the gap among these needs is even greater due to the lack of in-person instruction stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Some schools have tried to make up for this gap by accelerating instruction as opposed to focusing on remediating topics that students have not mastered, and students and schools alike are struggling with this approach.
Some students are falling behind, whereas others are not being given appropriately challenging assignments. Either way, we’re failing to prepare our kids for their future. One way we can start to repair this problem is by incorporating proficiency-based learning into school districts nationwide.
Benefits of Proficiency-Based Learning
There are numerous benefits to these proficiency-based learning and standards-based learning approaches, so it’s no wonder it has become increasingly popular in the educational world. Some (but not all) of the benefits include:
- More students will learn what they’re supposed to. There will be less of a range of competency; either the student has mastered the skill, or they haven’t.
- This style of learning allows students to take ownership of their education, which in turn is more motivating for them. They have more control over how they learn the material and how they prove their mastery of it.
- Standards-based learning provides teachers with specific details on individual students’ learning progress. It’s not a “one size fits all” approach.
- Proficiency-based learning doesn’t incorporate irrelevant factors like age, grade level, or attendance when it comes to assessing a student’s mastery of a skill.
- It allows for increased flexibility, both for the students and the teachers.
- It makes it easier for teachers to differentiate instruction so that students can learn at their own pace and have their education tailored to their individual needs.
- The assessments can (and should) also be differentiated. Students should be encouraged to submit videos, papers, PowerPoints, portfolios, projects, etc. based on their personal learning styles and comfortability with a topic.
- Standards-based learning is a more cost-effective way to assess student learning than standardized testing, which can cost anywhere from $7-$73 per studentand comes with a degree of uncertainty regarding test quality and validity.
Proficiency-Based Learning Strategies for the Classroom
The best way to incorporate mastery-based learning into your curriculum is to conduct a pre-assessment before beginning a new unit. Assess students’ current knowledge on a topic so that you can meet them where they’re at in terms of their skill set. This will prevent you from teaching information that they already know, as well as teaching standards that are beyond their current comprehension. Some other ways you can incorporate proficiency-based /standards-based learning and assessment into your classroom are by including one or more of the following strategies:
- Student surveys
- Student feedback
- Choice boards
- Exit tickets
- Learning targets
- A variety of choices for assessment based on various learning styles
- Encourage students to incorporate technology into their evaluations if they’re comfortable with it
Proficiency-based learning has single-handedly changed the language we use regarding student achievement. It’s a transformative approach to teaching and learning that can improve students’ educational experiences so that they are accurately prepared for their future careers and any higher education they decide to pursue. Some may be hesitant to incorporate it into their classrooms because it’s so different from what we’re used to seeing in education, but the results speak for themselves. It’s worth the extra time and effort it may take to master this approach when you see how many students are meeting their educational goals.
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