{"id":1034,"date":"2024-09-24T20:48:32","date_gmt":"2024-09-25T00:48:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-teaching-practices\/?p=1034"},"modified":"2024-09-27T20:50:52","modified_gmt":"2024-09-28T00:50:52","slug":"concept-based-curriculum-and-instruction-cbci-in-higher-ed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-teaching-practices\/2024\/09\/concept-based-curriculum-and-instruction-cbci-in-higher-ed\/","title":{"rendered":"Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction (CBCI) in Higher Ed"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In my work as an educator, I\u2019ve recently been diving into Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction (CBCI), and it\u2019s changed the way I think about teaching soft skills. Instead of focusing on cramming in tons of content or getting lost in the details, CBCI shines a light on the big ideas that really stick with students and apply to all sorts of situations. It\u2019s not just about having students memorize facts. It\u2019s about fostering real understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the things I love most about CBCI is how it helps students connect what they learn in the classroom to the world outside of it. Rather than stressing over every little fact, the focus shifts to core concepts they can actually use in life. For me, it\u2019s all about encouraging students to think deeper and make meaningful connections with what they\u2019re learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the workshops I\u2019m creating, the focus is on soft skills. Soft skills are those crucial abilities like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. These skills might not always get the same spotlight as technical knowledge, but they\u2019re just as important in the workforce. My research has shown that may even be more important! Through activities like mock interviews, group discussions, and presentations, I want students to practice these skills in real-life situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One challenge with soft skills is that they\u2019re harder to measure than technical abilities. I\u2019m working on coming up with more creative ways to assess growth. Things like peer reviews and self-reflections can help students see their own progress in a more meaningful way.<\/p>\n\n\n

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This approach ties into two TCE threshold concepts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Both teachers and student have empowerment\/agency.<\/strong> Students as active agents of their learning
My goal is to have students truly engage with these soft skills by taking an active role in their own learning. It\u2019s about more than just sitting back and absorbing information\u2014they need to apply it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Curriculum is more than standards, textbooks, or courses of study.<\/strong> Education as a transformative experience. These soft skills don\u2019t just matter at work, they impact how we interact with people and solve problems in everyday life. That\u2019s what makes CBCI so powerful, it shapes not just students\u2019 knowledge, but the way they move through the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    At the end of the day, CBCI has helped me focus on teaching concepts that actually matter. By building workshops around soft skills, I\u2019m aiming to give students tools they can take with them far beyond the classroom. It\u2019s about creating learning experiences that stick and set them up for long term success.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    The links below dive deeper into why understanding key concepts is so important for students. I especially like how the second blog points out that CBCI isn\u2019t about dismissing the facts. It\u2019s about rethinking how we teach them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    https:\/\/lessonbud.com\/blog\/teaching-for-understanding-concept-based-curriculum-and-instruction<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    What role do facts and skills play in a Concept-Based Curriculum?<\/a><\/blockquote>