1. A method of providing prescriptive learning, comprising the following carried out by a data processing system: providing a user independent hierarchy of competencies, competency characteristics and assessments with associated rules that identify learning activities; and identifying a user specific path through the hierarchy for a selected competency and competency characteristic based on the hierarchy, scoring of at least one question associated with at least one assessment associated with the selected competency characteristic, the associated rules and user specific information to provide a user specific identification of learning activities.