Competency-Based Modules in a College Preparatory Course

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Abstract

In 2013, Pace University in New York offered PACEPrep (Online College preparatory) summer course to incoming first-year students on a voluntary basis with three goals in mind: increase first-year retention; connect disciplines with professional careers, and track the impact in underrepresented students. The PACEPrep included five modules. The first module introduced “online education,” “information Literacy,” and “e-portfolio.” The remaining four modules (English, Mathematics, Science, and Communications Studies) reflected the university core. Readings from the English module addressed and integrated all four disciplines in a holistic approach. The design of content to fulfill academic requirements while developing academic skills was challenging. Teachers created problem-based assignments focusing on students creating, questioning, and revising knowledge, while developing skills in critical thinking, collaboration, communication, reasoning, synthesis, and resilience. Following competency-based models, each unit allowed students to advance at their own pace until mastery of the subject was achieved. It was also required a critical reflection exercise for their eportfolio to receive a certificate of completion and badges of academic skills. This presentation will address the PACEPrep course concept; rates of student success, development of learning outcomes and academic skills, and results from student satisfaction survey and retention rates and selection of majors.