Customized Learning

Competency-Based Learning

Competency-based learning prioritizes what you learn, not how much time you spend learning. Under this model, you can learn in many different ways and progress in your course as soon as you master the academic content, regardless of place or pace of learning.

What Is a Competency?

At VLACS, we define competencies as the big ideas, concepts, and enduring understandings that students are expected to master before moving on in their studies. Each VLACS course, project, or experience is designed to help you master a specific group of competencies.

For Example…

Advertising and Sales Competency

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the business of marketing and advertising by analyzing the impact of a budget and finances on advertising production and market buying decisions.

Characteristics of Competency-Based Learning

Time Is Not a Barrier to Learning

There is no pre-determined timetable when enrolled in a competency-based education program. Instead, you can take the time to understand and comprehend the course material adequately. And while acceleration is allowed, if you need extra support to meet a competency, time is on your side.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Everyone learns differently, and not every student succeeds in the typical classroom setting. With competency-based learning, you have the opportunity to tailor your learning style to make course material relevant to your life.

All Students Are Held to High Standards

When enrolled in a competency-based school, you are expected to work at a pace that meets your academic needs, which means that you will master competencies at different times.

In a traditional school model, you may be able to overcome a failing test grade by doing well enough on other tests to bump up your grade. Unfortunately, that means you’ve missed out on mastering an important competency, which will make further learning more difficult.

In a competency-based setting like VLACS, you continue working on concepts and skills until you demonstrate understanding.

Here, the goal is not to earn a “good enough” grade to advance. It’s about truly understanding something so knowledge is retained for the long term, not the short term.

Failure Is Not an Option

If you are willing to do the work, the concept of failure does not exist within the VLACS competency-based model. You may fall short of demonstrating competency on an exam or project, but you will not be labeled a “failure.”

Much like the bar exam, the real estate licensure exam, or a driver’s test, each assessment serves a dual purpose of measuring competency and identifying areas that still need attention. At VLACS, failure is replaced with “not ready yet,” and your teacher is available to help get you where you need to be.

Competency-based learning at VLACS

When taking our courses, competency is measured by passing specified competency assignments, including projects, papers, exams, or quizzes, with a grade of 85 or better and having greater than a 60% average in the course.

You are allowed multiple attempts on assignments and are supported by your VLACS instructor as you work to demonstrate your understanding of the course competencies.

Each course has a pre-determined set of competencies, outlined in our learning catalog.

Projects and experiences are assessed using a rubric on a three-point scale: approaches competency, meets competency, or exceeds competency. With these learning options, competency is demonstrated through various different ways, such as a presentation, prototype, portfolio, or poster.

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