Competences memory map: A model for the representation of competences applied in education

A skill is a basic unit for cognitive processing that allows the use of concepts. A competence is the result of the application of a skill on a concept. Competences and their development play a central role in most educational and training programs. This paper presents a new formal model for the representation of competences in persons and machines, called Competences Memory Map, an extension of Memory Map [17], a model capable of representing skills and competences in an integrated, simple and flexible way. Competences Memory Map is a formal model described with set theory, handled with concept algebra, and computationally implementable. The formal description of algebraic and algorithmic operations over the model, as well as case studies demonstrate that Competences Memory Map model properties hold as expected in dealing with complex real structures.