Implementing Competency Based Assessment (CBA) in a First Year Engineering Program Article Swipe

View

Sean Maw , Peeter Fredlund , Andrea Stickwood , Michael Hill , Shaobo Huang ·

YOU? · · 2024 · Open Access · · DOI: https://doi.org/10.24908/pceea.2023.17091

The University of Saskatchewan’s College of Engineering implemented a new First Year Engineering program in 2021/22. Competency-based assessment (CBA) was implemented across most of the curriculum, in a variety of types of courses. An extensive survey of this First Year cohort was conducted in the summer of 2022, and several questions focused on student perceptions of experiences with various aspects of the CBA implementation. This paper details findings from student perceptions of the USask CBA system, the reasons for those perceptions, how students used and navigated CBA, and suggestions for improvement. Descriptive statistics were compiled for all closed-form questions as well as for the coded text response questions. Overall, CBA worked quite well in this first major roll-out of the program. The forgiving nature of the assessment scheme was the most noted positive feature. Logistics play a key role in realizing CBA’s benefits, and improvements in the implementation will be needed in order for students and the program to maximize the potential of CBA.

Related Topics

Concepts

Engineering management Engineering Medical education Software engineering Computer science Psychology Medicine

Metadata

Type: article
Language: en
Landing Page: https://doi.org/10.24908/pceea.2023.17091
OA Status: diamond
Cited By: 3
Related Works: 10
OpenAlex ID: https://openalex.org/W4403764218

All OpenAlex metadata

Raw OpenAlex JSON

OpenAlex ID: https://openalex.org/W4403764218

Canonical identifier for this work in OpenAlex
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24908/pceea.2023.17091

Digital Object Identifier
Title: Implementing Competency Based Assessment (CBA) in a First Year Engineering Program

Work title
Type: article

OpenAlex work type
Language: en

Primary language
Publication year: 2024

Year of publication
Publication date: 2024-03-04

Full publication date if available
Authors: Sean Maw, Peeter Fredlund, Andrea Stickwood, Michael Hill, Shaobo Huang

List of authors in order
Landing page: https://doi.org/10.24908/pceea.2023.17091

Publisher landing page
Open access: Yes

Whether a free full text is available
OA status: diamond

Open access status per OpenAlex
OA URL: https://doi.org/10.24908/pceea.2023.17091

Direct OA link when available
Concepts: Engineering management, Engineering, Medical education, Software engineering, Computer science, Psychology, Medicine

Top concepts (fields/topics) attached by OpenAlex
Cited by: 3

Total citation count in OpenAlex
Citations by year (recent): 2025: 1, 2024: 2

Per-year citation counts (last 5 years)
Related works (count): 10

Other works algorithmically related by OpenAlex

Full payload

id	https://openalex.org/W4403764218
doi	https://doi.org/10.24908/pceea.2023.17091
ids.doi	https://doi.org/10.24908/pceea.2023.17091
ids.openalex	https://openalex.org/W4403764218
fwci	2.31081082
type	article
title	Implementing Competency Based Assessment (CBA) in a First Year Engineering Program
biblio.issue
biblio.volume
biblio.last_page
biblio.first_page
topics[0].id	https://openalex.org/T12124
topics[0].field.id	https://openalex.org/fields/22
topics[0].field.display_name	Engineering
topics[0].score	0.9955999851226807
topics[0].domain.id	https://openalex.org/domains/3
topics[0].domain.display_name	Physical Sciences
topics[0].subfield.id	https://openalex.org/subfields/2214
topics[0].subfield.display_name	Media Technology
topics[0].display_name	Engineering Education and Curriculum Development
topics[1].id	https://openalex.org/T13682
topics[1].field.id	https://openalex.org/fields/22
topics[1].field.display_name	Engineering
topics[1].score	0.9915000200271606
topics[1].domain.id	https://openalex.org/domains/3
topics[1].domain.display_name	Physical Sciences
topics[1].subfield.id	https://openalex.org/subfields/2216
topics[1].subfield.display_name	Architecture
topics[1].display_name	Engineering Education and Pedagogy
topics[2].id	https://openalex.org/T11283
topics[2].field.id	https://openalex.org/fields/22
topics[2].field.display_name	Engineering
topics[2].score	0.9628000259399414
topics[2].domain.id	https://openalex.org/domains/3
topics[2].domain.display_name	Physical Sciences
topics[2].subfield.id	https://openalex.org/subfields/2214
topics[2].subfield.display_name	Media Technology
topics[2].display_name	Experimental Learning in Engineering
is_xpac	False
apc_list
apc_paid
concepts[0].id	https://openalex.org/C110354214
concepts[0].level	1
concepts[0].score	0.4578075110912323
concepts[0].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6314146
concepts[0].display_name	Engineering management
concepts[1].id	https://openalex.org/C127413603
concepts[1].level	0
concepts[1].score	0.4247395694255829
concepts[1].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11023
concepts[1].display_name	Engineering
concepts[2].id	https://openalex.org/C509550671
concepts[2].level	1
concepts[2].score	0.40746763348579407
concepts[2].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q126945
concepts[2].display_name	Medical education
concepts[3].id	https://openalex.org/C115903868
concepts[3].level	1
concepts[3].score	0.39355093240737915
concepts[3].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q80993
concepts[3].display_name	Software engineering
concepts[4].id	https://openalex.org/C41008148
concepts[4].level	0
concepts[4].score	0.3666823208332062
concepts[4].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198
concepts[4].display_name	Computer science
concepts[5].id	https://openalex.org/C15744967
concepts[5].level	0
concepts[5].score	0.34936362504959106
concepts[5].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9418
concepts[5].display_name	Psychology
concepts[6].id	https://openalex.org/C71924100
concepts[6].level	0
concepts[6].score	0.19208398461341858
concepts[6].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11190
concepts[6].display_name	Medicine
keywords[0].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/engineering-management
keywords[0].score	0.4578075110912323
keywords[0].display_name	Engineering management
keywords[1].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/engineering
keywords[1].score	0.4247395694255829
keywords[1].display_name	Engineering
keywords[2].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/medical-education
keywords[2].score	0.40746763348579407
keywords[2].display_name	Medical education
keywords[3].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/software-engineering
keywords[3].score	0.39355093240737915
keywords[3].display_name	Software engineering
keywords[4].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/computer-science
keywords[4].score	0.3666823208332062
keywords[4].display_name	Computer science
keywords[5].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/psychology
keywords[5].score	0.34936362504959106
keywords[5].display_name	Psychology
keywords[6].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/medicine
keywords[6].score	0.19208398461341858
keywords[6].display_name	Medicine
language	en
locations[0].id	doi:10.24908/pceea.2023.17091
locations[0].is_oa	True
locations[0].source.id	https://openalex.org/S4210194487
locations[0].source.issn	2371-5243
locations[0].source.type	conference
locations[0].source.is_oa	True
locations[0].source.issn_l	2371-5243
locations[0].source.is_core	False
locations[0].source.is_in_doaj	False
locations[0].source.display_name	Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA)
locations[0].source.host_organization	https://openalex.org/P4310312949
locations[0].source.host_organization_name	Surveillance Studies Network
locations[0].source.host_organization_lineage	https://openalex.org/P4310312949
locations[0].source.host_organization_lineage_names	Surveillance Studies Network
locations[0].license
locations[0].pdf_url
locations[0].version	publishedVersion
locations[0].raw_type	journal-article
locations[0].license_id
locations[0].is_accepted	True
locations[0].is_published	True
locations[0].raw_source_name	Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA)
locations[0].landing_page_url	https://doi.org/10.24908/pceea.2023.17091
indexed_in	crossref
authorships[0].author.id	https://openalex.org/A5030557965
authorships[0].author.orcid	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0455-9659
authorships[0].author.display_name	Sean Maw
authorships[0].author_position	first
authorships[0].raw_author_name	Sean Maw
authorships[0].is_corresponding	False
authorships[1].author.id	https://openalex.org/A5046077247
authorships[1].author.orcid
authorships[1].author.display_name	Peeter Fredlund
authorships[1].author_position	middle
authorships[1].raw_author_name	Peyton Fredlund
authorships[1].is_corresponding	False
authorships[2].author.id	https://openalex.org/A5114406453
authorships[2].author.orcid
authorships[2].author.display_name	Andrea Stickwood
authorships[2].author_position	middle
authorships[2].raw_author_name	Andrea Stickwood
authorships[2].is_corresponding	False
authorships[3].author.id	https://openalex.org/A5001872209
authorships[3].author.orcid	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3861-6105
authorships[3].author.display_name	Michael Hill
authorships[3].author_position	middle
authorships[3].raw_author_name	Madyson Hill
authorships[3].is_corresponding	False
authorships[4].author.id	https://openalex.org/A5110481213
authorships[4].author.orcid
authorships[4].author.display_name	Shaobo Huang
authorships[4].author_position	last
authorships[4].raw_author_name	Shaobo Huang
authorships[4].is_corresponding	False
has_content.pdf	False
has_content.grobid_xml	False
is_paratext	False
open_access.is_oa	True
open_access.oa_url	https://doi.org/10.24908/pceea.2023.17091
open_access.oa_status	diamond
open_access.any_repository_has_fulltext	False
created_date	2025-10-10T00:00:00
display_name	Implementing Competency Based Assessment (CBA) in a First Year Engineering Program
has_fulltext	False
is_retracted	False
updated_date	2025-11-06T03:46:38.306776
primary_topic.id	https://openalex.org/T12124
primary_topic.field.id	https://openalex.org/fields/22
primary_topic.field.display_name	Engineering
primary_topic.score	0.9955999851226807
primary_topic.domain.id	https://openalex.org/domains/3
primary_topic.domain.display_name	Physical Sciences
primary_topic.subfield.id	https://openalex.org/subfields/2214
primary_topic.subfield.display_name	Media Technology
primary_topic.display_name	Engineering Education and Curriculum Development
related_works	https://openalex.org/W4391375266, https://openalex.org/W2748952813, https://openalex.org/W2931662336, https://openalex.org/W2077865380, https://openalex.org/W4401768695, https://openalex.org/W2765597752, https://openalex.org/W2134894512, https://openalex.org/W2083375246, https://openalex.org/W2067108088, https://openalex.org/W2085372204
cited_by_count	3
counts_by_year[0].year	2025
counts_by_year[0].cited_by_count	1
counts_by_year[1].year	2024
counts_by_year[1].cited_by_count	2
locations_count	1
best_oa_location.id	doi:10.24908/pceea.2023.17091
best_oa_location.is_oa	True
best_oa_location.source.id	https://openalex.org/S4210194487
best_oa_location.source.issn	2371-5243
best_oa_location.source.type	conference
best_oa_location.source.is_oa	True
best_oa_location.source.issn_l	2371-5243
best_oa_location.source.is_core	False
best_oa_location.source.is_in_doaj	False
best_oa_location.source.display_name	Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA)
best_oa_location.source.host_organization	https://openalex.org/P4310312949
best_oa_location.source.host_organization_name	Surveillance Studies Network
best_oa_location.source.host_organization_lineage	https://openalex.org/P4310312949
best_oa_location.source.host_organization_lineage_names	Surveillance Studies Network
best_oa_location.license
best_oa_location.pdf_url
best_oa_location.version	publishedVersion
best_oa_location.raw_type	journal-article
best_oa_location.license_id
best_oa_location.is_accepted	True
best_oa_location.is_published	True
best_oa_location.raw_source_name	Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA)
best_oa_location.landing_page_url	https://doi.org/10.24908/pceea.2023.17091
primary_location.id	doi:10.24908/pceea.2023.17091
primary_location.is_oa	True
primary_location.source.id	https://openalex.org/S4210194487
primary_location.source.issn	2371-5243
primary_location.source.type	conference
primary_location.source.is_oa	True
primary_location.source.issn_l	2371-5243
primary_location.source.is_core	False
primary_location.source.is_in_doaj	False
primary_location.source.display_name	Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA)
primary_location.source.host_organization	https://openalex.org/P4310312949
primary_location.source.host_organization_name	Surveillance Studies Network
primary_location.source.host_organization_lineage	https://openalex.org/P4310312949
primary_location.source.host_organization_lineage_names	Surveillance Studies Network
primary_location.license
primary_location.pdf_url
primary_location.version	publishedVersion
primary_location.raw_type	journal-article
primary_location.license_id
primary_location.is_accepted	True
primary_location.is_published	True
primary_location.raw_source_name	Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA)
primary_location.landing_page_url	https://doi.org/10.24908/pceea.2023.17091
publication_date	2024-03-04
publication_year	2024
referenced_works_count	0
abstract_inverted_index.a	8, 27, 136
abstract_inverted_index.An	33
abstract_inverted_index.as	99, 101
abstract_inverted_index.be	149
abstract_inverted_index.in	14, 26, 43, 113, 139, 145, 151
abstract_inverted_index.of	2, 5, 23, 29, 31, 36, 46, 55, 60, 71, 118, 124, 162
abstract_inverted_index.on	52
abstract_inverted_index.to	158
abstract_inverted_index.CBA	62, 74, 109
abstract_inverted_index.The	0, 121
abstract_inverted_index.all	96
abstract_inverted_index.and	48, 84, 87, 143, 155
abstract_inverted_index.for	78, 89, 95, 102, 153
abstract_inverted_index.how	81
abstract_inverted_index.key	137
abstract_inverted_index.new	9
abstract_inverted_index.the	24, 44, 61, 72, 76, 103, 119, 125, 129, 146, 156, 160
abstract_inverted_index.was	19, 41, 128
abstract_inverted_index.CBA,	86
abstract_inverted_index.CBA.	163
abstract_inverted_index.This	64
abstract_inverted_index.Year	11, 39
abstract_inverted_index.from	68
abstract_inverted_index.most	22, 130
abstract_inverted_index.play	135
abstract_inverted_index.role	138
abstract_inverted_index.text	105
abstract_inverted_index.this	37, 114
abstract_inverted_index.used	83
abstract_inverted_index.well	100, 112
abstract_inverted_index.were	93
abstract_inverted_index.will	148
abstract_inverted_index.with	57
abstract_inverted_index.(CBA)	18
abstract_inverted_index.2022,	47
abstract_inverted_index.First	10, 38
abstract_inverted_index.USask	73
abstract_inverted_index.coded	104
abstract_inverted_index.first	115
abstract_inverted_index.major	116
abstract_inverted_index.noted	131
abstract_inverted_index.order	152
abstract_inverted_index.paper	65
abstract_inverted_index.quite	111
abstract_inverted_index.those	79
abstract_inverted_index.types	30
abstract_inverted_index.across	21
abstract_inverted_index.cohort	40
abstract_inverted_index.nature	123
abstract_inverted_index.needed	150
abstract_inverted_index.scheme	127
abstract_inverted_index.summer	45
abstract_inverted_index.survey	35
abstract_inverted_index.worked	110
abstract_inverted_index.CBA’s	141
abstract_inverted_index.College	4
abstract_inverted_index.aspects	59
abstract_inverted_index.details	66
abstract_inverted_index.focused	51
abstract_inverted_index.program	13, 157
abstract_inverted_index.reasons	77
abstract_inverted_index.several	49
abstract_inverted_index.student	53, 69
abstract_inverted_index.system,	75
abstract_inverted_index.variety	28
abstract_inverted_index.various	58
abstract_inverted_index.2021/22.	15
abstract_inverted_index.Overall,	108
abstract_inverted_index.compiled	94
abstract_inverted_index.courses.	32
abstract_inverted_index.feature.	133
abstract_inverted_index.findings	67
abstract_inverted_index.maximize	159
abstract_inverted_index.positive	132
abstract_inverted_index.program.	120
abstract_inverted_index.response	106
abstract_inverted_index.roll-out	117
abstract_inverted_index.students	82, 154
abstract_inverted_index.Logistics	134
abstract_inverted_index.benefits,	142
abstract_inverted_index.conducted	42
abstract_inverted_index.extensive	34
abstract_inverted_index.forgiving	122
abstract_inverted_index.navigated	85
abstract_inverted_index.potential	161
abstract_inverted_index.questions	50, 98
abstract_inverted_index.realizing	140
abstract_inverted_index.University	1
abstract_inverted_index.assessment	17, 126
abstract_inverted_index.questions.	107
abstract_inverted_index.statistics	92
abstract_inverted_index.Descriptive	91
abstract_inverted_index.Engineering	6, 12
abstract_inverted_index.closed-form	97
abstract_inverted_index.curriculum,	25
abstract_inverted_index.experiences	56
abstract_inverted_index.implemented	7, 20
abstract_inverted_index.perceptions	54, 70
abstract_inverted_index.suggestions	88
abstract_inverted_index.improvement.	90
abstract_inverted_index.improvements	144
abstract_inverted_index.perceptions,	80
abstract_inverted_index.implementation	147
abstract_inverted_index.implementation.	63
abstract_inverted_index.Competency-based	16
abstract_inverted_index.Saskatchewan’s	3
cited_by_percentile_year.max	96
cited_by_percentile_year.min	91
countries_distinct_count	0
institutions_distinct_count	5
citation_normalized_percentile.value	0.88996139
citation_normalized_percentile.is_in_top_1_percent	False
citation_normalized_percentile.is_in_top_10_percent	True