702 - Competency Based Education

As I read it, CBE is akin to mastery learning which seems harmless and idealistic when considering the variety of learning modalities, skills sets, and student preparation that could exist within a single class. That said, my semi-visceral reaction includes a level of caution that I can only attribute to learning and skills being considered something finite, i.e., once one has shown competency, they have theoretically reached a predetermined ceiling of learning. I write this reflecting on the growth of online and distance learning while at the same time acknowledging my very limited understanding of the topic, hence a visceral rather than cerebral reaction. What I like about CBE on face value is the self-progress as nowhere outside of gestation do humans evolve in 9 month intervals. I also appreciate that it reinforces goal setting and an understanding that greater or lesser input begets greater or lesser output. Lastly, CBE seems to provide more immediate gratification which parallels many other societal characteristics and just plain makes sense in this day and age.  What I don't like outside of that whole learning being finite thing is the potential to reinforce negative self-image as 10 year-olds surpass 19 year-olds in their perceived competency.