We’re planning an activity on a subject that our learners don’t know about. Why do we need to measure a change in their “competence” on the subject, if they need “knowledge”?

Gained knowledge is valuable, but if there is no indication it is being applied or put into practice, it doesn’t result in measurable changes.  ACCME requires providers to develop education designed to create changes in competence, performance or patient outcomes, with a change in competence as the minimum requirement.  Remember, knowledge gets to the learner question of “do they know it?”  Competence gets to the learner question of “Can they apply it?”