Abstract
Online Geospatial Learning Lab Exemplifies Competency-Based Learning
Track: User Presentations - Teaching
Authors: Stephen McElroy
Competency-based learning is an educational strategy that provides a flexible means by which students demonstrate content mastery. As part of our online Master of Geospatial Information degree program, we developed an online Geospatial Learning Lab which is similar to a learning commons that brings together people, resources and materials in a way that facilitates the development of an active learning community. The Geospatial Learning Lab is a one-stop shop that allows students to explore a given topic in greater depth beyond the classroom environment. It includes a dynamic list of online GIS content, advanced tutorials, case studies, and supporting geospatial learning exercises. To track student achievement related to these activities, we implemented a badging system in which students are issued a skill-level badge upon the demonstration of specific competencies in one of five geospatial concept groups. Students incorporate their badges into an ePortfolio that documents competency-based learning throughout their studies.