Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN)

Upcoming Webinar: "Using Performance Evidence to Validate Skills" — presented in collaboration with GoReact! ?? Date: Tuesday, December 10 ? Time: 2 PM CT / 3 PM ET ?? Register Now: https://lnkd.in/edvuM3a5 In today’s skills-based economy, validating an individual’s ability to perform real job tasks is essential for building effective education-to-employment pathways.?Over the past six months, the Center for Skills' Partnership for Skills Validation has brought together industry leaders to define a shared vision for leveraging performance-based assessments as the gold standard for skill verification. ?? Why It Matters: Traditional hiring methods often fail to reflect what candidates can actually do. Performance-based assessments, however, provide concrete, trusted evidence of skills—empowering educators, employers, and job seekers to connect more meaningfully. ?? What You’ll Learn: How performance evidence is redefining skills validation. Practical applications of performance-based assessments. Insights into aligning education outcomes with employer needs. ?? The session will also feature a live demonstration from GoReact, showcasing how their innovative tools bring performance-based evidence to life. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how these practices are paving the way for a more inclusive and skill-focused workforce. Secure your spot today! https://lnkd.in/edvuM3a5

A big thank you to Competency Weaver, a proud C-BEN Partner, for their solid sponsorship and contributions to CBExchange 2024! As an innovative leader in competency-based education, Competency Weaver is empowering institutions to design and align CBE programs tailored to today’s learners. Their AI-driven platform facilitates the creation of competencies, learning objectives, and experiential assessments, while delivering real-time insights into student progress, transforming the way institutions approach education. During the Experiential Assessment Workshop, CompetencyWeaver impressed attendees with their on-demand, dynamic role-plays. These rich, customizable simulations showcased the potential for experiential learning to elevate student engagement across diverse institutional programs. Additionally, in their session, "AI Meets the C-BEN Quality Framework: Empowering CBE Design and Delivery," Founder & CEO Michel Codere and Chief Learning Officer Emmanuelle Erny demonstrated how specialized AI tools are driving the creation of effective and engaging CBE programs. We’re grateful for CompetencyWeaver’s commitment to advancing quality CBE and supporting the shared vision of student success across higher education. Thank you, CompetencyWeaver, for being part of CBExchange 2024! ?? #CompetencyBasedEducation #CBE #HigherEducation #CBExchange2024 #InnovationInLearning #AIInEducation

”Para mí, es una experiencia enriquecedora y satisfactoria; me regresó a una etapa que pensé que ya había dejado atrás." "For me, it’s an enriching, satisfying experience that brought me back to a chapter of my life I thought I had left behind." We also want to highlight Victor, one of our AgTEC students from Reedley College. Last week, Victor joined us and our community college partners at the CBExchange conference in Colorado Springs, where the team presented on the progress of the Ag Systems Certificate and its inception, how Competency-Based Education (CBE) is serving this community of adult learners, and the importance of building strong connections between industry, educators, and communities. On the panel Victor shared his perspective as a student in the AgTEC program and how it has completely changed the way he sees education as an adult learner. He shared that he is eager for this program to help him broaden his career opportunities. After moving to the United States from Mexico in 2012, Victor began work as a farmworker in the Central Valley. He began taking AgTEC courses this fall! He has been working hard with Reedley College Instructor Jose Paz to move quickly through the program. His dedication and drive are a true testament to what this program is all about!? A big shoutout to Victor's instructor Jose Paz, not just for translating for Victor on the panel, but for acting as an advocate for all of his students, and offering unwavering support every step of the way! #F3AgTEC #WorkforceDevelopment #AgricultureInnovation #ReedleyCollege

From November 11-14, we gathered at the breathtaking Broadmoor in Colorado Springs for the largest CBExchange to date — welcoming 800 attendees to celebrate competency-based education in style! This year's alpine-inspired theme brought a fresh perspective to our conversations, and we're so grateful to everyone who made it up the mountain with us. CBExchange 2024 explored a wide range of topics through incredible workshops and sessions, including CBE implementation, Al, theology, organizational culture, learning at scale, public policy, and more. And as always, we learned by doing — engaging in experiential learning and community-building activities that brought theory to life. Check out some of the highlights below, and in our gallery here: https://lnkd.in/e5w6jMeK Mark your calendars — CBExchange 2025 will be in Phoenix, Arizona, from November 9-13th!

C-BEN is excited to announce that Michele Camarco, CAE has joined the C-BEN team as our Chief Financial Officer! Michele has been dedicated to improving the financial operations of nonprofits for over 30 years. A born and bred New Englander, she started with town government work after earning her degree in accounting from Central Connecticut State University. Relocation to Indianapolis then led to a 24-year career in the higher education sector of Fraternity and Sorority headquarters, foundation and national housing operations. Michele has an intimate knowledge of the workings of both 501 (c) 3 and (c) 7 organizations. She earned her Certified Association Executive credential over 10 years ago and continues to volunteer and support the nonprofit industry advocating for associations. Most recently, Michele spent 4 years with the Maine Community Foundation leading them through a financial restructure to match their positive growth and revised strategic plan. Using her belief in a collaborative approach, Michele brings all staff members into the organizational budgeting process to maximize fiscal efficiency as a team ensuring the nonprofit is always stewarding with the mission and purpose in mind. Please join us in welcoming Michele to the C-BEN team!

Through the #ManufacturingReadinessProject, Solutions for Information Design, Inc. and The Manufacturing Institute - MI are transforming how employers value military experience. 600+ veterans have already earned digital badges recognizing their skills. Let’s bridge the gap between service and civilian careers! #MilitarySkills #VeteranTransition

Join C-BEN at the Assessment Institute this weekend, hosted by Indiana University Indianapolis! Laurie Graham Dodge and Ryan Specht-Boardman are co-presenting "Competency-Based Education & The Hallmark Practices of Assessment" at the pre-con. For more information, visit the workshops page here: https://lnkd.in/e9BzfSJG

With registrations closed, it's official - 2024 is the biggest CBExchange ever! So who are we seeing in Colorado Springs next month?

C-BEN is excited to announce that Theresa Gaffney has joined the C-BEN team as our Digital Engagement Manager. Theresa’s journey has included content management roles at organizations like TED Conferences, PlayStation Competition Center, and the Collegiate Starleague, where she led digital engagement initiatives that drove growth. As Head Coach of Esports at Messiah University, Theresa advocated for programming that helps the next generation of learners develop their marketable skills in the esports industry hands-on, while competing with their peers in-game. With a Master’s degree in History from Queens College, Theresa has also taught in diverse settings—from college-level English classes in Seoul, South Korea, to social media courses at Harrisburg University. This blend of teaching and tech experience gives her a unique perspective on the role of CBE in education and how to connect with audiences, no matter the platform. Please join us in welcoming Theresa to the C-BEN team!

Upcoming Webinar: Exploring Skills-Based Innovations to Address Math Pathways for Adults ?? Thursday, October 17, 2pm CT / 3pm ET ?? Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gnP7eb-8 C-BEN, in partnership with New Classrooms and with support from Lumina Foundation, is launching a groundbreaking initiative to create skills-based math pathways designed specifically for adult learners. This project aims to eliminate unnecessary barriers, empowering adults to master the math skills crucial for career success and to pursue postsecondary credentials. This webinar will explore the challenges adults face with remedial courses that impact their completion rates, and will discuss how innovative, skills-based math pathways can improve outcomes like enrollment, retention, and career advancement by leveraging learners' prior experience. Panelists include: Tiffany T. Thai, Senior Program Associate, Center on Education and Labor Anne Kim, Contributing Editor, Washington Monthly Amber Garrison Duncan, PhD Garrison Duncan, EVP & COO, C-BEN George Cigale, President of?Teach to One, New Classrooms Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation that’s shaping the future of adult education!