PLA Presentation - OrACRAO

Melanie Booth Director, Center for Experiential Learning & Assessment / PLA Gretchen Potter Director of Admissions Gwen Hyatt Registrar MARYLHURST UNIVERSITY May 19, 2009 Harvesting Adult Learners’ Prior Knowledge: Prior Learning Assessment in Higher Education

Inventory of Knowledge
Introduce yourself to the person next to you and identify what you know about Prior Learning Assessment.
Please share out:
What do you know?
Why are you here?

History of PLA
PLA is a result of 3 significant social movements in the US:
The adult education movement
The non-traditional higher education movement
The increasing sophistication of assessment
PLA has thus been …
part of a sweeping and multifaceted movement to rewrite the relationship between the university and the larger society. The implementation of PLA was largely congruent with such trends as ‘relevance’ in education, greater access for underserved populations, joint ventures between colleges and the private sector, and a more inclusive curriculum (Michelson, 1997, p. 42).

PLA Philosophy / Theory
Experience can be a source of significant learning and knowledge
When [adult] learners come to college, they are not blank slates or empty pails.
PLA programs
Honor learners’ prior experiences by providing a means for them to gain credit for the resulting college-level learning,
Help learners reflect and then be able to build upon these experiences, and
Help facilitate learners’ awareness of the great advantages of continual learning.

Context - 5 Types of PLA
Standardized credit-by-examination programs.
External evaluation of coursework that is completed in non-collegiate environments.
Institutionally-assessed learning programs.
Learner assessment through institutionally-designed challenge examinations or procedures.
Learner assessment through portfolio-assisted PLA.

Types 1 & 2: External to Institution
Standardized credit-by-examinations
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES)
American Council on Education (ACE) evaluates coursework completed in non-collegiate environments (military training or professional and corporate training courses) and provides credit guidelines.

Type 3: Institutional
Apprenticeships, professional licensures, workplace training programs, or certifications are assessed by the educational institution itself.
Agency-sponsored learning assessment.
The learning program is assessed; learners who provide evidence of completion to the educational institution are awarded credit accordingly.
Students may need to complete an additional assignment to ensure college-level attainment.

Types 4 & 5: Individual
Individual learner assessment through institutionally-designed challenge examinations or procedures.
Individual learner assessment through portfolio-assisted PLA.
Experiential learning products (essays, performances, work samples)
Evidence of learning + Evidence of experience

PLA Programs at
Marylhurst University

Options for Earning Credit
New course work
Previous transferable coursework
Military or other training approved by ACE
Standardized proficiency exams: CLEP, DANTES, Excelsior, NYU Foreign Language exams ( up to 45 credits – transfer credit )
Learning obtained through work and life experience that can be used to earn credit through PLA portfolio process ( up to 45 credits – residency credit )

Prior Learning Portfolio (Essays)
Students can earn up to 45 credits through PLA
25% of degree program per NWCCU policy
These count as residency credits, even if not MU courses
Some sample course topics that students have written for:
Conflict Management Public Presentations
Golf Effective Parenting
Effective Listening Clothing Construction
Team Building Event Planning
Irish Music History of Rock & Roll
Grant Writing Meeting Management

The Marylhurst PLA Process
LRN 150 (1 credit): Learning Assessment Workshop
LRN 305 (6 credits): PLA Seminar ~ From Experience to Learning
LRN 311 (2 credits): PLA Portfolio Development
Compile and submit final PLA Portfolio for transcription

LRN 150
Key “gatekeeper” course to PLA program
Identify prior learning experiences – depth and breadth of knowledge
Assess writing skills
Evaluate transfer credits and training
Develop academic, professional, and personal goals
Receive evaluation of potential for PLA writing and testing for credit

Evaluation & Transcription of Credit
PLA submissions are evaluated by content experts with appropriate academic credentials
Many of our evaluators are Marylhurst full-time or adjunct faculty members
When final Portfolio is submitted, earned PLA credits are documented by CELA and given to Registrar to transcript
PLA credits are identified on transcript
“ Courses numbered 197/297/397/497 normally denote credits awarded for prior learning”

PLA & The Prospective Student
Adult population is largest, most rapidly growing segment of US post-secondary education (Noel-Levitz, 2008 report)
Non-traditional students are currently 50% of US college enrollment (Noel-Levitz, 2008 report)
80% of Marylhurst University undergrad students are 25+ years of age

Marketing and recruiting tool
Way to emphasize non-traditional student programs and Marylhurst’s student body
Admissions advising process: initial evaluation/screening  Information Session  LRN 150
Is PLA Right for You?
Training of new admissions counselors – typical student appointment

Challenges
Students with too many transfer credits
Setting or resetting student expectations:
Can’t get credit for experience
PLA credit can’t be identified in admissions advising session
Traditional student who thinks they have the depth and breadth of experience
Nature of degree programs may limit PLA possibilities

PLA & The Registrar
After 35 years, it’s easy!
Intentional Division of Labor
Admissions – posts testing credits and ACE credits
CELA – Academic work and most admin work; record and retain academic records
Registration – Records and transcripts (SIS)
NWCCU Policy 2.3 - Credit for Prior Experiential Learning

Q & A
What else would you like to know about PLA programs?

Thank You
For more information:
Melanie Booth, Ed.D.
Director, Center for Experiential Learning & Assessment
Marylhurst University
[email_address]
503-636-3941

PLA Presentation - OrACRAO

by Melanie Booth

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