Competency-Based the Goal

Just like you wouldn’t build a home on a shaky foundation, it doesn’t make sense to move ahead academically until certain skills have been mastered.  Why try to write a paragraph until good grammar is in place, or do algebra before the basics of math have been established?

To be competent at something is to be able to do that something effectively and reliably in a variety of circumstances; it is not the mere retention of a given set of facts, procedures, or theories.  While knowledge acquisition occurs as part of competency development, it is not done for its own sake.  The goal is to put this new skill or knowledge to work, hence giving purpose to the task.  The real world challenge takes shape as the student searches for the tools to accomplish the task.  Is it to translate an original work in a foreign language to discover a process or possibly research the comparisons of two forms of government?  To do a task towards achieving one’s personal best, we need to apply knowledge effectively in producing desired results, including the skill to acquire additional knowledge as needed.  Each child’s learning journey emerges from an exploration of which competencies are needed to realize their learning goals and of what kinds of learning experience will best allow the development of those competencies – all consistent with who they are, how they learn, and where they go in life.  The learner’s uniqueness dictates interest level and total involvement.  Using the student’s innate curiosity, projects will involve twenty-first century skills such as collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking.

At Oak Hill Academy, in Lincroft, New Jersey, the staff works together to create plans for the learner’s journey by helping to set individual goals and identifying appropriate pathways for exploration that are matched to the student’s interests, aspirations, and needs.

Since there is only a suggested timeline for completion, mastery is an ongoing function, which continues to grow and be enriched by experience. This is the beauty of life-long learning. Oak Hill Academy is a NJ private school that is co-educational, independent, nonsectarian, and nonprofit for grades pre-kindergarten through eight. Oak Hill Academy is dedicated to a traditional, challenging, and caring learning environment that encourages comprehensive thought processes and deep understandings; thus promoting the wholesome intellectual, emotional, moral, and physical lifetime growth of our students. If you want to learn more about what makes Oak Hill Academy one of the best private school in NJ, visit us online at www.oakhillacademy.com , or subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when we post more topics.