Resources and Publications

Getting Started With Evaluation, considers the importance of conducting evaluation, provides guidelines for summative evaluation, and delves into findings of an early study on CBE student outcomes.

• Module 1: Introduction – Provides an overview of the series, then considers the value of conducting evaluation.
• Module 2: Getting Started with Evaluation – Serves as a guide for conducting summative evaluation to support measuring student outcomes and using those findings to make the case for CBE programs.
• Module 3: Early Findings on CBE Programs’ Efficacy – Presents the results of an early study on CBE programs’ efficacy, looks at student outcome data from six CBE programs, and examines how those outcomes compare to students in non-CBE programs. Read the full report, On the Path to Success: Early Evidence About the Efficacy of Postsecondary Competency-Based Education Programs.

Evaluation for Improvement, covers the fundamentals of two continuous quality improvement models—root cause analysis and the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle—and how they apply to improvement within the context of CBE program. 

• Module 1: Introduction to "Evaluation for Improvement" - Provides an overview of the series, and then presents the basics of continuous quality improvement.
• Module 2: Setting the Stage - Root Cause Analysis - Discusses root cause analysis, outlining some initial steps to take before diving into a plan-do-study-act, or PDSA, cycle on your campus. 
• Module 3: The Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle - A step-by-step guide to implementing the PDSA cycle on your campus
• Module 4: Embedding Continuous Quality Improvement in Your Processes - Offers advice for embedding continuous quality improvement in your processes, including defining those processes, measuring outputs and outcomes, and analyzing results.

Aligning for Learning - Evaluating Connections, presents the importance of alignment in relation to validity of learning and evaluation of program effectiveness, and explores implications for ways to address misunderstandings in the larger field of higher education around high quality CBE programs through communication of internal alignment.

• Module 1: The Importance of Alignment in CBE - Provides an overview of the series, then discusses the importance of aligning competencies, learning activities, and assessments.
• Module 2: A Guide to Internal Alignment - Walks through steps for using data to ensure that competencies, learning activities, assessments and evaluative criteria are well aligned, including tracing competencies throughout a program, using data to identify potential misalignment, and engaging in continuous quality improvement to address misalignment. 
• Module 3: A Guide to External Alignment - Presents steps for using data to ensure that competencies are aligned through programs to post-completion outcomes and employer requirements, including using data to make a case about CBE student performance and collaborating with employers.

Communicating Research Findings, explores ways in which you can effectively communicate evaluation findings and data to build support—or, make the case—for CBE.

• Module 1: Introduction - Provides an overview of the series and a general introduction to communicating your research findings.
• Module 2: Audience Analysis - Focuses on effectively identifying your audience and understanding how to tailor communications about data, research, or evaluation to specific audiences.
• Module 3: Storytelling - Demonstrates using the power of narrative to further engage your audience.
• Module 4: Data Visualization - Explores how to use visuals to present data in a way that’s more compelling and more easily digested by various audiences.