Leveraging Core Competencies in NODA Educational Programs

The NODA Core Competencies provide a framework for personal and professional growth in orientation, transition, and retention (OTR) work, outlining essential knowledge and skills for professionals at various levels of expertise. Complementing existing standards, these competencies focus specifically on OTR efforts and fill gaps within the CAS Standards. They help define the profession, set benchmarks for skill development, and guide ongoing improvement, playing a crucial role in organizing training, planning educational programs, and evaluating progress within the field. You can find more information about the development of core competencies here!

The why behind the Core Competencies

• Benchmarking Professional Development: Competencies help create a shared understanding of essential skills.
  
• Guiding Educational Programs: They provide clear outcomes for training and development initiatives.
  
• Advancing Skills: NODA members use competencies to improve their expertise and contribute meaningfully to OTR work.

The Twelve Core Competencies

The competencies are grouped into twelve categories. Each category outlines the knowledge professionals need, not necessarily how to implement or do the work but what to understand and be proficient in. Each category encapsulates key learning outcomes that professionals should use to guide their professional development, educational programs, and training.
An in-depth look at the twelve core competencies can be found here!

How to Use the Core Competencies

The NODA Core Competencies are structured to support learning at three distinct levels:

• Foundational: Basic knowledge and understanding of concepts and practices.
  
• Intermediate: Developing a deeper understanding and application in various situations.
  
• Advanced: Mastery and leadership in applying knowledge and skills within the OTR field.

To effectively use these competencies in creating educational programs, follow these steps:

1. Set Clear Learning Outcomes: Define what participants will learn and achieve, ensuring that all learning outcomes align with one or more core competencies. 
2. Identify Relevant Competencies: Select 2-3 competencies that align with your event, project, or educational offering. To further enhance your program, you can use the core competencies to inspire idea generation for events, projects, or educational offerings.
3. Design Activities and Sessions: Plan activities, discussions, or reflections that allow participants to demonstrate progression through the levels of the selected competencies.
4. Assess Progress: Based on their participation and engagement with the competencies, evaluate how well participants meet the learning outcomes.

Linking Competencies to Professional Development

When planning educational programs or volunteer opportunities, it is essential to align them with specific competencies:

• Short-Term Programs: These can focus on foundational competencies, giving participants a broad understanding of a category.
  
• More Extended Programs: In-depth workshops, webinars, and conferences may incorporate multiple competencies across different levels. For instance, a conference presentation on campus collaboration might emphasize a foundational learning outcome of recognizing existing campus partnerships, while a more advanced session could focus on developing new, sustainable partnerships.

Competencies are most effective when using their learning outcomes to ensure professionals engage in practical and impactful development activities.

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