Re-Engineering Information Technology: Design Considerations for Competency Education. CompetencyWorks Issue Brief

• Published in: International Association for K-12 Online Learning
• Main Author: Glowa, Liz
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: International Association for K-12 Online Learning 2013
• Subjects: Academic Standards; Alignment (Education); Cognitive Style; Common Core State Standards; Competency Based Education; Curriculum Evaluation; Data Analysis; Educational Practices; Elementary Secondary Education; Evaluation Methods; Information Retrieval; Information Systems; Information Technology; Instructional Design; Instructional Effectiveness; Management Systems; Mastery Learning; Profiles; Progress Monitoring; Student Centered Learning; Student Educational Objectives; Taxonomy; Technology Integration

Competency education is student-centric, personalizing student progress so that every child has adequate time and support to reach proficiency every step of the way. Competency education fundamentally changes the way the educational enterprise is organized around student needs, and thus must have a dynamic IT system to support it. Following an introductory essay, "Getting Ahead: Mature IT for Competency Education" by Susan Patrick, President and CEO of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, this paper demonstrates the importance of analyzing and examining our knowledge of what makes up an effective competency-based information system. While designing competency education systems, it is important to keep student learning at the core, to incorporate interoperability principles, and to use an enterprise architecture approach that enables schools and districts to effectively manage their institutions. These systems need to be able to communicate, to supply the data and support that administrators, educators, and students need in order to know exactly how individual students are progressing based on clear competencies. Based on interviews and research, the ideas in this report build upon the information systems developed by competency education innovators, best practices of systemic approaches to information management, and emerging opportunities. This paper is designed for readers to find the sections that are of most interest to them in their role and to be used to catalyze strategies, support new competency-based instructional models, and inform decision making for continuous improvement. Consider this paper as an opportunity to catalyze conversations in your organization and networks about how IT systems can be designed with student learning at their core. The following are appended: (1) Multiple Initiatives Working on Interoperability, Data Standards, and Technical Services; (2) Writing an RFI or RFP: Competency Education Information Technology Considerations; and (3) Glossary.