The Concept of Competence: Its Use Edmund C. Short and Misuse in Education

Abstract

Few terms have been as misused and as overused as has "competence." The language of educators is filled with refer ences to the need to enhance teacher competence or to assure teacher compe tency. Short attempts to clarify the meaning of the term by describing four common conceptions of competence. The first conception refers to specific behaviors or performances and, accord ing to the author, should be limited to precise and measurable things. The sec ond conception relates to command of knowledge and skills and like the first conception has a relatively narrow focus. Conception three should be used in con nection with value issues such as identi fying the degree of sufficiency of compe tence. The fourth conception, and the preferred one, argues Short, entails defining competence holisticly.