Case Study: Utah State University advances competency-based education with Canvas by Instructure

Utah State University supports competency-based education for 28,000+ students with Instructure Canvas

Utah State University faced the challenge of adapting to a competency-based education (CBE) model to better serve post-traditional learners. This required moving away from a time-based, credit-hour system to one that measures skill mastery, necessitating robust tools for course design and assessment. The university turned to its existing learning management system, Canvas by Instructure, to build this new program.

The solution centered on using Instructure's Canvas platform, specifically its Outcomes and SpeedGrader tools, to map competencies and assess student mastery. This digital foundation, integrated with a third-party tool called ShiftiQ, enabled a successful pilot program. Results included strong faculty buy-in, accredited CBE programs, and the unexpected benefit of using the pre-built Canvas courses as templates for the rapid shift to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Utah State University