Personalized competency-based instruction applied to medical technology education

This paper describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a medical microbiology course employing personalized competency-based instruction offered in the upper division of an innovative medical technology education program. Also, the effectiveness of personalized instruction is discussed in terms of career mobility for clinical practitioners, competency-based achievement, mastery of learning and student/instructor--student/proctor ratio. Its role in curriculum research and development, as well as the potential for personalized competency-based instruction to improve the quality of education for clinical laboratory personnel, is discussed.