Outcome and Competency Based Assessment: A Student Guide

Robert Thirsk High School

Outcome & Competency-Based Assessment

1. What is it?

2. What does it look like?

3. How will it help me?

4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Outcome/Competency –Based Assessment?

Outcome/Competency-based Assessment Outcome/Competency-based Assessment means your marks will be based on your knowledge and

skills in each content area, not on an accumulation of

“points”.

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What will it look like?

Outcome/Competency-Based Assessment will show your level of learning on each outcome/competency.

At the end of the year, your mark will be reported as a percentage.

At the beginning of each unit, your teacher will give you a list of the most important things you will need to learn. (Outcomes and (Outcomes and Competencies)Competencies)

During each unit, you and your teacher will keep track of how well you are learning each outcome/competency, and you’ll receive specific help and feedback to get better and better along the way. (Formative Assessment)

Your mark will be based on how well you learn each outcome and/or competency.

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What will it look like?

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What will it look like?

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When you see your marks, it might look something like this…

Competencies

A competency is an interrelated set of attitudes, skills and knowledge that is drawn upon and applied to a particular context for successful learning and living. Competencies are developed over time and through a set of related learner outcomes. The following competency groupings contain descriptions of the attitudes, skills and knowledge that contribute to students becoming engaged thinkers and ethical citizens with an entrepreneurial spirit.

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Competencies

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Competencies…

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More competencies!

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And last but not least of the competencies!

We won’t be working on every competency in every assignment!! Competencies are addressed when it makes sense with the outcomes.

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What are the Advantages of Outcome/Competency-Based Assessment?

“In order to learn, you need information about what you want to be able to understand and do, and what you currently understand and can do, so that any gap between the two can be made apparent. Learning is about attempts to reduce the gap. Assessment is the process of gaining information about the gap”. Absolum, (2006) in Supporting Handbook for Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting of Student Learning: A Toolbox fro Educators. Foothills School Division #38, (2009).

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Advantage #1

It is easier to hit a target when you know exactly where to aim.

Outcome/Competency-based Assessment Outcome/Competency-based Assessment means you will know clearly - and ahead of time - exactly what you are supposed to learn and exactly what an “Exemplary” or a “Competent” looks like

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Advantage #2

Your marks will be more accurate.

Outcome/Competency-based Assessment Outcome/Competency-based Assessment helps marks become more accurate and more fair.

Traditionally, marks included factors other than what you have learned (ex. behavior). Now, your marks will be about learning the curriculum outcomes and the core competencies.

You will get feedback on non-learning items, but your marks will be about what you have learned and what you can do.

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Advantage #3

It is easier to do well when you practice

and get feedback along the way.

For example, in traditional grading, your first try first try was “averaged in” with your secondsecond, thirdthird, and fourthfourth tries.

With Outcome/Competency-based AssessmentCompetency-based Assessment, your mark “grows” as you learn more. In the example above, your fourth try is the one that counts.

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Advantage #4

ItIt’’s easier to figure out your strengths s easier to figure out your strengths and identify your weak areas. You know where to and identify your weak areas. You know where to focus your energy.focus your energy.

Outcome/Competency-Based Assessment Outcome/Competency-Based Assessment gives you more specific feedback and the ability to analyze any work you do more accurately.

For example, let’s say you got a six question test back with three right and three wrong. Then you discover that you got all three questions right about one competency. It was the other competency, you didn’t understand yet. Celebrate one! Study for the other!

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Advantage #5

It is better preparation for college/university and a It is better preparation for college/university and a professional career. professional career.

Outcome/Competency-based Assessment Outcome/Competency-based Assessment encourages more critical thinking and stretches your abilities. It gets you to focus on LEARNING and on GETTING BETTER.

College and career professionals want to know how good you are at what you do. Employers are looking for thinkers, writers, collaborators, problem solvers, innovators. They are looking for workers who know how to analyze their performance and can make specific plans to get better. That’s what you do regularly with outcome/competency-based assessment.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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What about my college applications?

In Outcome/Competency-Based Assessment Competency-Based Assessment your final mark continues to be a percentage. However, this percentage is a more accurate reflection of what you know and can do.

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What if I just don’t want to do it and I am willing to take a zero?

NOT AT ROBERT THIRSK HIGH NOT AT ROBERT THIRSK HIGH SCHOOL!SCHOOL!We care enough about you to support you to do the right thing. You will thank us later! Failure to turn in work is considered unacceptable and will receive consequences.

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Other questions?

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So now let’s look at the ESSENTAIL OUTCOMES AND COMPETENCIES we will be learning in our first unit…

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