From Theory to Practice: How Wooflash Drives CBE at University of Montpellier

Competency-Based Education (CBE) is transforming higher education by prioritizing the development of practical, transferable skills alongside theoretical knowledge. At the forefront of this transformation, the University of Montpellier has integrated innovative tools like Wooflash and Wooclap into its educational practices, as part of the French Ministry-funded FlexiEVAL Project. During a webinar, Dominique Hervy-Guillaume, Learning Designer and Project Manager at the University of Montpellier, shared valuable insights into how Wooflash and Wooclap has successfully supported CBE initiatives and improved educational outcomes.

The philosophy behind Competency-Based Education

Competency-based education (CBE) is an approach to teaching, learning, and assessment that focuses on the student's demonstration of learning outcomes and attaining proficiency in particular competencies in each subject. In basic terms, CBE means that, instead of focusing on grades and yearly curriculum schedules, the main focus is placed on how competent each student is in the subject.

As Tardif (2006) aptly described:

“CBE is a complex know-how that relies on the effective mobilization and combination of a variety of resources, both internal and external, within a family of situations.”

This philosophy forms the foundation of the FlexiEval Project, funded by the French Ministry of Higher Education, which aims to:

• Address modern educational challenges through the integration of digital tools into competency-based learning.
• Bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
• Provide tools to measure skill acquisition and progression effectively.

Dominique Hervy-Guillaume, highlighted that these goals are essential to ensuring students graduate with not just academic knowledge but also the skills required to thrive in real-world contexts.

How Wooflash facilitates Competency-Based Education

The University of Montpellier selected Wooflash for its seamless alignment with CBE principles and its ability to meet critical educational needs. Here are the key features that make Wooflash an indispensable tool for competency-based learning:

1. Increased Engagement

Wooflash uses interactive and engaging assessments to boost student motivation.  Through quizzes, detailed feedback, and collaborative activities, students stay actively involved in their learning journey, enhancing participation at every step.

2. Data-Driven Insights

Wooflash empowers educators with real-time analytics on student performance, enabling them to:

• Monitor progress.
• Identify learning gaps.
• Tailor teaching strategies based on individual and group needs.

These insights help teachers make informed decisions to improve outcomes.

3. Cross-Disciplinary Adaptability

Wooflash’s flexibility makes it suitable for a wide range of disciplines, from humanities to STEM. Its seamless integration with LMS platforms, such as Moodle or Canvas ensures that it can be easily adopted across various departments, benefiting nearly 50,000 students at the University of Montpellier.

4. Self-Directed Improvement

Wooflash encourages students to take ownership of their learning journey by offering tools that allow them to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and refine their skills independently. This approach helps learners become active participants in their education.

And what about Wooclap?

At the University of Montpellier, Wooclap plays an integral role in live, real-time interactions during classes, while Wooflash focuses on personalized feedback and post-session learning. Together, these platforms complement each other to ensure a seamless learning experience throughout the student journey.

While Wooflash supports personalized, asynchronous learning, Wooclap enhances live engagement during classes. Together, these tools form a complementary ecosystem for CBE.

• Wooclap: Facilitates real-time quizzes, polls, and activities to gauge student understanding during live sessions and Instant feedback that keeps students active and motivated.
• Wooflash: Focuses on post-session learning by providing detailed feedback and fostering long-term skill development.

By combining Wooclap for live engagement and Wooflash for personalized learning, the University of Montpellier has created a comprehensive system that supports CBE across various disciplines.

A practical example: Co-Constructing Knowledge with Wooflash

One of the most innovative applications of Wooflash at the University of Montpellier involves co-constructing knowledge between teachers and students. This collaborative approach strengthens learning outcomes by engaging students in the creation of educational content.

Collaborative Activity: Creating a course 

• Objective: To encourage active engagement and collaborative learning by having students create interactive questions and activities on Wooflash.
• Before the Class: The teacher sets up a Wooflash course and activates collaboration mode to enable student contributions.
• During the Class:
• Students (individually or in pairs) design new questions or activities based on the concepts covered in the lesson.
• Educators review the submitted content, provide constructive feedback, and integrate the best questions into the course material.
• After the Class: The collaborative activities serve as a study resource for upcoming exams, reinforcing key concepts and fostering memory retention.

This approach serves multiple educational purposes:

• Encourages Active Engagement: Students take an active role in their learning by creating content.
• Strengthens Memory Anchoring: Designing questions based on course material enhances understanding and memory retrieval.
• Enhances Student Learning: Teacher feedback enriches the learning process and improves comprehension.
• Fosters Collaboration: Co-construction promotes teamwork and a sense of shared responsibility.
• Generates Educational Resources: The student-created materials become valuable resources for revision and future lessons.

University of Montpellier’s Success with Wooflash

The implementation of Wooflash under the FlexiEVAL Project has led to measurable improvements:

• Personalized Feedback: Students receive detailed guidance, helping them focus on areas needing improvement.

“Unlike traditional assessment tools, Wooflash offers personalized feedback that helps students identify their strengths and areas for improvement, empowering them to take ownership of their learning journey.”
— Dominique Hervy-Guillaume

• Increased Engagement: Interactive assessments have significantly boosted student motivation and participation.
• Scalable Adaptability: Wooflash has been integrated across various faculties, making it a versatile tool for competency-based education.

Future Perspectives

Since its initial pilot phase, Wooflash has expanded to various faculties, positively impacting the university’s educational ecosystem. Looking ahead, the University of Montpellier plans to:

• Scale Wooflash further across all departments.
• Enhance its feedback tools to support more personalized learning journeys.
• Foster collaboration between educators and students to improve competency assessments.

These results highlight Wooflash’s ability to bridge the gap between theory and practice, making it an invaluable tool for modern education.