learningcounts.org a new prior learning assessment initiative
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LearningCounts.org A New Prior Learning Assessment Initiative. Judy Wertheim V.P., Higher Education Services Higher Education Conference on Enrollment Management February 23, 2011. What Is CAEL?. The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning www.cael.org. What Is CAEL?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
LearningCounts.orgLearningCounts.orgA New Prior Learning Assessment InitiativeA New Prior Learning Assessment Initiative
Judy WertheimV.P., Higher Education Services
Higher Education Conference on Enrollment Management
February 23, 2011
What Is CAEL?What Is CAEL?
The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning
www.cael.org
What Is CAEL?What Is CAEL?
▷ CAEL is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, with headquarters in Chicago.
▷ CAEL’s Mission: CAEL advances lifelong learning in
partnership with educational institutions, employers, labor organizations, government, and communities
▷ CAEL works to remove the barriers to adults so that they can pursue higher education and realize their potential.
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Some Barriers to Adult Some Barriers to Adult ParticipationParticipation
Affordability
Accessibility
Aspiration
Removing the BarriersRemoving the Barriers
PriorLearning
Assessment
Can Help
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How Can PLA Help?How Can PLA Help?What Is PLA?The evaluation for college credit of the
knowledge and skills one gains from life experiences (or from non-college
instructional programs) including:employment
travelhobbies
civic activitiesvolunteer servicemilitary service
How Can PLA Help?How Can PLA Help?
PLA Methods• Standardized exams
• Advanced Placement (AP)• College Level Examination Program (CLEP)• Excelsior College Exams• DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
• Evaluation of non-college training (e.g. corporate or military)
• Challenge exams• Individual student portfolios
Standards to Ensure Standards to Ensure QualityQuality
The 10 CAEL Standards for Assessing Learning ensure quality
#1: Credit or its equivalent should be awarded only for learning, and not for experience.
How Can PLA Help?How Can PLA Help? CAEL Study of PLA and Student
Outcomes• 48-institution study of PLA and academic outcomes,
funded by Lumina Foundation for Education (Fueling the Race to Postsecondary Success)
• 62,475 total adult students in our sample (adult = age 25 or older)
• Increased Graduation Rates, Greater Persistence, and Shorter Time to Degree
CAEL’s New PLA InitiativeCAEL’s New PLA Initiative
LearningCounts.org
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Planning for Planning for LearningCounts.orgLearningCounts.org
▷Funded by Lumina Foundation for Education • November, 2009 – May, 2010
▷Business and marketing plans completed • May, 2010
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▷ Will use on-line platform▷ Will help students earn all forms of
PLA credit(CAEL is working with ACE and the College Board.)
▷ Credit recommendations from LearningCounts.org faculty experts will be sent on ACE transcript to colleges
LearningCounts.orgLearningCounts.org
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LearningCounts.orgLearningCounts.org
▷Pilot phase began July 1, 2010 Funded by:
• Joyce Foundation• Kresge Foundation• Lumina Foundation for Education• State Street Foundation• Walmart Foundation
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LearningCounts.org will LearningCounts.org will offer students:offer students:
▷ Brief assessment of whether LearningCounts.org is appropriate at this time
▷ One-on-one advising▷ Advice about ways to earn college credit for
learning▷ PLA course (theory and practice)▷ Faculty assessment of the PLA portfolio(s)▷ Record of credit recommendations on an ACE
transcript▷ Archive of the portfolio
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Whom Will It Serve?Whom Will It Serve?▷ Individuals already enrolled in
community colleges or four-year institutions• Provide support for postsecondary
institutions that have no existing PLA programs
• Augment existing PLA programs at some postsecondary institutions
Whom Will It Serve?Whom Will It Serve?▷Unaffiliated individuals not
yet in college or having started but never finished college• Active duty military and
veterans • Document and certify skills from
their military careers• Workers in transition or lower-
income workers • Workforce Investment Boards
might send workers to document skills from previous jobs and have that learning evaluated by faculty
Whom Will It Serve?Whom Will It Serve?▷Employers and industry
groups• To pursue the further credentialing
of their employees• To document learning that has
already been completed and identify skills gaps
LearningCounts.org Can LearningCounts.org Can Help If Your Institution:Help If Your Institution:
▷Lacks a PLA program at your institution
▷Cannot keep up with high volume of portfolio submissions
▷Lacks personnel to adequately staff the PLA program
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LearningCounts.org Can LearningCounts.org Can Help If Your Institution:Help If Your Institution:
▷Lacks credentialed faculty to review submitted portfolios in certain fields
▷Is interested in streamlining the process through increased capacity and speed
▷Will rely on LearningCounts.org as an interim resource
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Faculty AssessorsFaculty Assessors
▷ We are seeking applicants from across all disciplinary areas
▷ Faculty assessors and instructors will have qualifications equivalent to those that would enable them to lead an undergraduate classroom
▷ Assessors and instructors will receive formal training from CAEL
▷ To apply: [email protected]
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Requirements to Requirements to Participate in the Pilot Participate in the Pilot PhasePhase
▷ Be an active institutional/system/organizational CAEL member
▷ Refer 5 students to LearningCounts.org in each pilot year
▷ Accept credit recommendations as you would any other transfer credits
▷ Be self-identified as adult friendly▷ Have the approval of an administrator (e.g.
president, vice president, chief academic officer or dean) to participate
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Criteria for StudentsCriteria for Students
▷ Are matriculated at your institution▷ Are in good standing at your institution▷ Understand the costs involved. (Tuition
for the PLA course = $500.00. Fees for portfolio assessment = $250/1-6 credit hours requested in a single discipline.)
▷ Understand that the portfolio development course lasts six weeks and will require approximately 10 hours of work each week
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Criteria for StudentsCriteria for Students
▷ Have demonstrated competency in written English
▷ Have access to a computer with high-speed capability and are good candidates for online learning
▷ Have not taken a similar course▷ Are willing to help us evaluate the course▷ Are planning to graduate in August, 2011
or later
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LearningCounts.orgLearningCounts.org
Goals for the pilot phase:▷ Increase awareness of PLA (students, faculty,
general public, states, workforce organizations, employers)
▷ Provide more PLA options than a single institution can
▷ Offer uniform, consistent PLA credit evaluations▷ Increase numbers of students who earn credit
through PLA. ▷ Involve more institutions in PLA
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LearningCounts.orgLearningCounts.org
Goals for the pilot phase:▷ Teach students how to reflect on their own
learning and prepare a portfolio▷ Involve 2 states in policy change efforts▷ Extend outreach to unaffiliated students▷ Refine LearningCounts.org model▷ Track progress of students who earn PLA
credit
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