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Welcome to the Center for Certification & Competency-Based Education (C3Be)

Our Purpose

Established in 2021, C3Be supports responsive learning systems that focus on certification, competency-based, and work-place informed learning and education. We help universities, businesses, and students better meet each other's needs through the use of learning maps, assessments, and community outreach.

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Explore the Center for Certification & Competency-Based Education

Who We Are

Discover who we are and learn more about the C3Be staff.
Who We Are

What We Do

Explore what we do and how we support our clients.
What We Do

Who We Serve

Learn more about the population served by C3Be and how we can support you or your business.
Who We Serve

C3Be News

Blue mask over a picture of KU's Campanile Tower and Fraser Hall.

Project-Based Learning: A Game Changer for Teacher Professional Development

Our recent study by a team of researchers from the University of Kansas Center for Competency-Based Education (C3Be) explored how Project-Based Learning can reshape teacher professional development by fostering collaboration, inquiry, and supportive instructional practices.
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Using Design Thinking to Create Human-Centered Assessments

Many students find traditional assessments stressful and unreflective of their abilities. C3Be at KU is rethinking assessment development using design thinking, a human-centered approach that emphasizes the test-taker’s experience. By utilizing the Innovator’s Compass, a tool that guides designers to focus on the people involved, C3Be aims to create assessments that are more equitable, engaging, and effective.
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Relational Readiness: What is it? Why does it matter? How do you measure it?

“Ready” means someone is prepared and willing. Relational readiness means that someone is ready for relationships. This term describes a set of personal characteristics that enable the development of healthy, supportive relationships. Put another way, a person who is “relationally ready” is prepared and willing to develop relationships with other...

A view of KU campus. Text: C3Be Director Diane DeBacker Reflects on the CBExchange Asia-Pacific Conference. KU Achievement & Assessment Institute | Center for Certification and Competency-Based Education

C3Be Director Diane DeBacker Reflects on the CBExchange Asia-Pacific Conference

Diane DeBacker, the director of AAI’s Center for Certification & Competency-Based Education (C3Be), participated in the CBExchange Asia-Pacific conference in Singapore, an annual event hosted by the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN). The conference served as a platform for C3Be to showcase their projects that help make learning visible. Furthermore, it...

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Contact the C3Be Team

Looking for more information on the C3Be? View the contact page to see how to get in touch with a staff member today. We look forward to hearing from you!
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