what is competency?

From:richard hazelton

Dear Andy,
 
thank you for defining all the things which competency isn't.
 
Dear Peggy,
 
allow me to articulate competency for you.
 
In Australia, all training is competency-based. Universities, which provide Education, not Training, have therefore excluded themselves from this principle. To understand the difference between education and training, consider the difference between sex education and sex training......
Standards of competency (called Training Packages) are defined for all occupations, except professions (i.e. university graduates), and these standards have been adopted nationally. The components of competency, common to all occupations, are:
 
task skills    the demonstration of an acceptable level of skill in the performance of a task
task management skills    the ability to manage a number of different tasks within the job
contingency skills    the appropriate response or reaction to unforeseen problems or changed circumstances
job/role environment skills    fulfilling workplace expectations and responsibility
transfer skills    applying the skill to different situations
 
Key competencies are embedded in all training packages. They are:
collecting, analysing and organising information
communicating ideas and information
planning and organising activities
working with others in teams
using mathematical ideas and techniques
solving problems
using technology
In competency-based assessment, evidence is gathered from the candidate in order to determine whether the desired standards for workplace performance have been met. The evidence collected must be
valid        the performance assessment confirms the competency standard
reliable     the assessment consistently measures the standard from candidate to candidate, and from assessor to assessor
authentic    actually measures the candidate's performance
current        indicates recent performance
sufficient    there is enough to conclude that competence has been achieved
It is important to understand that there is no concept of passing or failing in competency-based assessment. Candidates are either competent or not yet competent. There are no degrees of competence - you either are, or you need more training or practice. Perpetual reaffirmations of competence are pointless and unnecessary.
 
The Histotechnology Group of NSW has successfully implemented a competency-based Training and Assessment program in Histotechnology during 2002, the details of which I would be delighted to discuss with any interested reader.
 
hooroo,
Richard Hazelton.
Histotechs - the brains behind the stains !

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