Youth make up over half of Jordan's population, and almost half of them are unemployed. Young people experience apathy and frustration due to a lack of employment opportunities and an education system that does not prepare them for the workforce. In Jordanian Higher Education Institutions, student success is our focus. However, we still follow a…

Relevance of this article are questions of the differentiated approach in a specification of the purposes, tasks, contents and ways of the organization of teaching and educational process to training and formations of key competences of students on the basis of accounting of individual abilities and requirements. The purpose of article consists in…

The development of competency-based learning systems at Brookdale Community College in New Jersey is discussed. A concerted effort was made not only to recognize individual differences among students but also to provide instructional strategies that would accomodate the variety of learning styles reflected in those differences. The Brookdale…

A model basic speech communication course is described in this paper, along with guidelines for developing and maintaining an individualized approach to the basic course. The course outline describes the university environment where the course is taught; the structure of the department offering the course; the philosophy and course objectives; the…

The relationship between individualized instruction (II) and letter grades is an issue of considerable debate. Ultimately, II and the letter grade system are incompatible. Grading has been a traditional form for ranking or comparing students with respect to performance criteria. The scale typically has been A to F, whereas with individualized…

This paper presents a brief overview of current research on learner-centered curricular reform and of some of the issues attendant to its character and quality. Seven groupings of learner-centered reform are discussed in relation to current research and findings: performance and competency-based programs, personalized instruction, cooperative…

This paper describes the use of individualized instruction concepts in courses on structural design in undergraduate engineering programs. Areas covered include the distribution of time, unit packages, laboratory, and grading. Specific features discussed include class discussion, programmed problems, and summary units. Outcomes of such courses…

Project KIDS, an early intervention program for handicapped children which emphasizes parent involvement, is described. The project identified basic competencies for parenting developmentally delayed children. Fourteen top rated competencies were included on the Parent Self Appraisal Inventory (PSAI) which was administered to 92 parents. Results…

This paper discusses a course designed to equip students to use library resources while conducting academic research. By employing the methods of individualized instruction, a minimal teaching staff can direct the learning of large groups of students. Identifiable competencies are developed and can be assessed in: (1) the critical thinking which…

The best reporting procedure for any school or school district can be determined only after careful study of the needs and philosophy of the educational program. Whatever the choice of evaluation process, it should be focused on the individual rather than on a group, be skill- or criterion-based, be adaptable on a multi-grade-level range, be…

This paper explains competency-based education and its positive and negative aspects. The author cites accountability, better instructional plans, and increased opportunity for student success as positive aspects. Problems mentioned include adjusting to new terminology and more record-keeping. Typical components of competency-based instructional…

In this paper, the author discusses the need for educational reform that will make public schools more thorough and efficient, and at the same time more humane. These changes can best be realized, he argues, through a curriculum that is organized around a system of required educational competencies rather than around required courses. Instituting…

The purpose of this paper is to examine the perceptions and opinions of the 128 students who have matriculated in a competency-based reading methods course at Rhode Island College. The course presently consists of 54 objectives in 14 instructional modules. Alternate learning activities and various postassessment options are listed in each module,…

A competency-based educational program for future physicians studying reproductive biology was developed at the University of Utah College of Medicine. The development took the form of a generic model specifying a linear sequence of steps, namely: assess competency needs, specify competencies, determine competency components and performance…

An examination of Army instructional research and training programs in three specific areas may suggest implications for civilian instruction: (1) Performance-based instructional systems, (2) education and training for lower aptitude personnel, and (3) uses of instructional technology. The performance-based instructional system is based on…