Fifty-six participants, representing 14 Canadian engineering programs, attended the Second Annual Competency Based Assessment (CBA) Symposium on May 6 at the University Club. Hosted by Smith Engineering, the daylong gathering was among the campus-wide slate of Teaching and Learning Month events, and our Faculty was well represented.
The day kicked off with a welcome from Dean Deluzio and an introduction to key working principles of CBA from Brian Frank. Keston Fulcher (standing at far right in the photo) then introduced participants to his Learning Improvement Process (Collective Will, Vision, Where are we now, Interventions, Implementation, Re-Assessment), offering encouragement to consider the concepts as they can be implemented at Individual, Course section, Course, Program and Institution levels. A guided scenario unfolded through the session.
In the afternoon, Sean Maw and Jason Robert Tavares further explored the morning’s framework by highlighting relevant examples from their programs at University of Saskatchewan and Polytechnique Montréal, respectively. Interactive activities allowed participants to further connect the concepts to their own individual situations, and a sunny waterfront stroll was the boost people needed to finish up with a reflective panel and reception where the conversations continued.
While not an official part of the proceedings, the symposium has already established a tradition of organized pre- and post-event social gatherings at local restaurants, in order to build the connections in the engineering education community while also enjoying this great city that we live in.
Thanks to all who attended, and we look forward to inviting you all to the Third Annual CBA Symposium next May.
WATCH: Keston Fulcher responds in this video clip from the Q&A session to a question of incorporating CBA methods to curricula.
