The differences in conventional versus compentency classrooms:

1) In the conventional classroom, the teacher knows the answer.
In the competency-based classroom, more than one solution may be viable and the teacher may not have it in advance.

2) In the conventional classroom, students routinely work alone.
In the competency-based classroom, students routinely work with teachers, peers, and community members.

3) In the conventional classroom, the teacher plans all activities.
In the competency-based classroom, students and teachers plan and negotiate activities.

4) In the conventional classroom, the teacher makes all assessments.
In the competency-based classroom, students routinely assess themselves.

5) In the conventional classroom, information is organized, evaluated, interpreted and communicated by the teacher.
In the competency-based classroom, information is acquired, evaluated, organized, interpreted, and communicated by students to the appropriate audiences.

6) In the conventional classroom, the organizing system of the classroom is simple: one teacher teaches approximately 30 students.
In the competency-based classroom, the organizing systems are complex: teacher and students both reach out beyond school for additional information.

7) In the conventional classroom, reading, writing, and math are treated as separate disciplines; listening and speaking often are missing from the curriculum. treated as separate disciplines; listening and speaking often are missing from the curriculum.
In the competency-based classroom, disciplines needed for problem solving are integrated; listening and speaking are fundamental parts of learning.

8) In the conventional classroom, thinking is usually theoretical and "academic."
In the competency-based classroom, thinking involves problem solving, reasoning, and decision making.

9) In the conventional classroom, students are expected to conform to the teacher's behavioral expectations; integrity and honesty are monitored by the teacher; student self-esteem is often poor.
In the competency-based classroom, students are expected to be responsible, sociable, self-managing, and resourceful; integrity and honesty are monitored within the social context of the classroom; students' self-esteem is high because they are in charge of their own learning.