MAKING LEARNING COUNT: PRIOR LEARNING … · ABOUT CAEL • CAEL is the Council for Adult and...

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TAC TAC MAKING LEARNING COUNT: PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENTS PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENTS SEPTEMBER 2011 PRESENTED BY: MARK CAMPBELL & AMY SHERMAN THE COUNCIL FOR ADULT AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THE COUNCIL FOR ADULT AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Transcript of MAKING LEARNING COUNT: PRIOR LEARNING … · ABOUT CAEL • CAEL is the Council for Adult and...

TACTAC

MAKING LEARNING COUNT: PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENTSPRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENTS

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1

P R E S E N T E D B Y :

M A R K C A M P B E L L & A M Y S H E R M A N

T H E C O U N C I L F O R A D U L T A N D E X P E R I E N T I A L L E A R N I N GT H E C O U N C I L F O R A D U L T A N D E X P E R I E N T I A L L E A R N I N G

ABOUT CAELABOUT CAEL

• CAEL is the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning

• A 501(c)3 non-profit organization with 37 years of lifelong learning and workforce development experience

• Mission to remove barriers to learning for the adult workforce

• CAEL connects learning and work

• CAEL has a national network of hundreds of colleges and universitiesuniversities

• www.cael.org

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CAEL’S INTERMEDIARY ROLECAEL i i i it k l dg f d lt/ l

Colleges &

CAEL is unique in its knowledge of adult/employee learning practices and in its ability to work as an active intermediary between :

guniversities

CorporationsPublic CorporationsPublic Policymakers

Government, community and philanthropic Labor unions philanthropic

entities

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TOPICS FOR TODAYTOPICS FOR TODAY

• Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) overview and research on academic outcomesresearch on academic outcomes

• LearningCounts.org

• PLA State Policy PLA State Policy

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PLA OVERVIEWPLA OVERVIEW

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THE CREDENTIAL ATTAINMENT THE CREDENTIAL ATTAINMENT AGENDA

US Dept of Labor TEGL 15-10: “To shorten the duration in training, state and local workforce agencies can pursue the following strategies pursue the following strategies . . .

• Assess prior learning to help adults and dislocated workers obtain academic credit for independently workers obtain academic credit for independently attained knowledge and skills, thereby accelerating the process of credential attainment. “

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WHAT IS PLA?WHAT IS PLA?

The evaluation for college credit of the gknowledge and skills one gains from:

On-the-job learning

Military service

Corporate trainingp g

Opensource Courseware

Civic activitiesCivic activities

Volunteer service

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PLA METHODSPLA METHODS Standardized exams

Advanced Placement (AP) Advanced Placement (AP) College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Excelsior College Exams

DANTES S bj t St d di d T t (DSST)DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)

Challenge exams

I di id l t d t tf li Individual student portfolios

Evaluation of non-college training corporate or military training corporate or military training

Apprenticeships

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WHAT IS A PORTFOLIO?WHAT IS A PORTFOLIO?

A formal written, visual, or spoken communication , , pdescribing, illustrating, and documenting college-level learning– and requesting college credit. T i l t ( f h l t Typical components (may vary from school to school): Identification of prior learning- List and describe learning p g g

experiencesEssay or narrative- Describe goals and reasons for seeking

credit for prior learning; demonstrate how prior learning relates to education goalsDocumentation of knowledge and skills

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QUALITY ASSURANCEQUALITY ASSURANCE

The CAEL Standards for Assessing Learning

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ACADEMIC STANDARDSACADEMIC STANDARDS

Credit or its equivalent should be awarded only for learning, and not for experience.

The determination of credit awards and competence The determination of credit awards and competence levels must be made by appropriate subject matter and academic or credentialing experts.

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ADMINISTRATIVE STANDARDSADMINISTRATIVE STANDARDS

Fees charged for assessment should be based on the Fees charged for assessment should be based on the services performed in the process and not determined by the amount of credit awarded.

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RESEARCH FINDINGS ON THE VALUE OF PLA

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FUELING THE RACE TO POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS

What we wanted to know:

• Do adults who earn PLA credit have better graduation rates, compared with those who do not earn PLA credit?

• Do they have better persistence?• Do they have better persistence?

• Do they earn their degrees in a shorter period of time?

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FUELING THE RACE TO POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS

• 48-institution study of PLA and academic outcomes (funded by Lumina Foundation for Education)

• 62,475 total adult students in our sample (adult = age 25 or older)

• 15,594 (25%) had earned PLA credit between 2001 and 2008

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GRADUATION RATESGRADUATION RATES

Fueling the Race to Postsecondary Success, CAEL, March 2010

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PERSISTENCE TO GRADUATIONPERSISTENCE TO GRADUATION

When students earn credit for what they already know they what they already know, they are 2½ times more likely to persist to graduationpersist to graduation.

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TIME TO DEGREETIME TO DEGREE

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TIME TO DEGREETIME TO DEGREE

When students earn credit When students earn credit for what they already know, IT SAVES TIME.IT SAVES TIME.

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OTHER RESEARCH SUPPORTING THE VALUE OF SUPPORTING THE VALUE OF AND NEED FOR PLA

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COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLA SURVEY• Spring 2010 CAEL I don’t know YesSpring 2010 CAEL

survey • 88 respondents

16%Yes,

definitely28%

Do you think your institution will see

No12%

increased demand for PLA options in the future?

Yes, possibly44%

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ADULTS CARE ABOUT PLAADULTS CARE ABOUT PLA

A College Board study of 1500 adults rated A College Board study of 1500 adults rated “credit for prior learning policy” as more important than “small class size” or p“availability of financial aid.”

A KY telephone survey indicated that the opportunity to earn credit for prior learning is one of 3 motivators for adults with some is one of 3 motivators for adults with some college but no degree.

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NEED TO SCALE UP PLANEED TO SCALE UP PLA

Research indicates a need at institutions for Research indicates a need at institutions for more PLA, but a lack of capacity and resources persistsp

• Specialized training for assessors, advisors, administratorsadministrators

• Time intensive program

• Salaries, space, training, marketing

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SCALING UP THE USE OF PLA THROUGH LEARNINGCOUNTS.ORG

Supported by Lumina Foundation for Education, the Kresge Foundation, the Joyce Foundation and the Walmart Foundation

Collaboration with ACE CREDIT, the College Board and others

CAEL is drawing upon faculty experts nationwide for teaching portfolio development course and reviewing adult students’ portfolios

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STEP BY STEP: USING LC ORG

1. Talk to an Advisor

STEP BY STEP: USING LC.ORG

students have the option to speak one-on-one with an advisor to find out which PLA option is right for them

P f li A li d Portfolio Assessment – our online process to demonstrate knowledge by creating a portfolio and having it reviewed for college creditg

Testing – students can take a test to demonstrate learning ACE CREDIT – evaluates training by military, employers,

government agencies, and professional associations Cost: No Charge

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STEP BY STEP: USING LC ORG

2. Enroll in CAEL 100: Prior Learning Assessment

STEP BY STEP: USING LC.ORG

2. Enroll in CAEL 100: Prior Learning Assessment Theory and Practice

A six-week, faculty-lead, online course evaluated by A six week, faculty lead, online course evaluated by ACE CREDIT (3 credits)

Course will teach students how to document their college level learning and lead them through the development of their portfolio

C t t f k Courses start every few weeks

Cost: $500

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STEP BY STEP: USING LC ORG

3 C t d S b it P tf li

STEP BY STEP: USING LC.ORG

3. Create and Submit Portfolios

Each portfolio may be reviewed for up to 6 credits in any one discipline Students can submit multiple in any one discipline. Students can submit multiple portfolios

Faculty from colleges and universities from across Faculty from colleges and universities from across the country will evaluate portfolios and make credit recommendations

Cost: $250 for 1-6 credits attempted in the same discipline

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STEP BY STEP: USING LC ORGSTEP BY STEP: USING LC.ORG

4. Transcription of Credit

ACE will transcript course and portfolio credit recommendations made by LearningCounts.org/CAEL recommendations made by LearningCounts.org/CAEL faculty for partner institutions.

For Partner Plus institutions credit is transcribed through that schools usual process.

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NEW DEVELOPMENTS: NEW DEVELOPMENTS: WALMART LEARNING STIPENDS

• 114 stipends to cover cost of CAEL 100 and assessment fees for 1-6 credits

• Targeting low-income, underserved adults

• Working with Veterans Upward Bound and The Cara Program

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LEARNINGCOUNTS ORG LEARNINGCOUNTS.ORG FACT SHEET

Website first online class launched January 24, 2011

Classes begin every few weeks

Over 125 faculty assessors (over 600 applications!) Over 125 faculty assessors (over 600 applications!)

Over 300 partner school and association members

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SAMPLE PILOT INSTITUTIONSSAMPLE PILOT INSTITUTIONSOver 300 colleges and universities serving as

LearningCounts org pilot institutionsLearningCounts.org pilot institutions

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POLICY TO SUPPORT PLAPOLICY TO SUPPORT PLA

WorkforceHigher EducationCorporateCorporate

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EXAMPLES OF POLICY CHANGE WE EXAMPLES OF POLICY CHANGE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE

G l P li l i f PLA General Policy letter in support of PLA

PLA in State WIA Plan and other state plans

State or local policy letter from State WIB/Governor to State or local policy letter from State WIB/Governor to agencies/contractors/providers verifying ITA usage for PLA

PLA Assessment classified as a core and intensive service in WIA system

Allow state financial aid to pay for PLA assessment fees

Acceptance of PLA credits at institutions Acceptance of PLA credits at institutions

Transparent articulation/transfer policies for PLA credits

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WASHINGTONWASHINGTON

• PLA is in the WIA Strategic Plan PLA is in the WIA Strategic Plan

• South Seattle Community College is a LearningCounts.org P t I tit tiPartner Institution

• PLA legislation passed last sessiong p

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WASHINGTON (CONT )WASHINGTON (CONT.)

HB 1795 : Tasks the Higher Education Coordinating Board and other stakeholder to collaborate to • Increase the number of student who receive credit for prior

learning toward their major or degree, certificate or credential• Increase the number of institutions accepting PLA• Develop transparent PLA policies and practices• Create tools to develop faculty and staff knowledge and y g

expertise• Develop articulation agreement• Develop outcome measures to track progressp p g• Convene PLA workgroup• Submit annual report

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CALIFORNIACALIFORNIAAssembly Bill 372 (R. Hernandez – D)

• Subject to federal funding, requires that veterans receive prior learning assessments as part of community college matriculation processmatriculation process

• In 2009, more than 26,600 veterans utilized education benefits at a California community collegeat a California community college.

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OTHER PROMISING INITIATIVESOTHER PROMISING INITIATIVES

Arkansas

A k A i i f T Y C ll (AATYC)• Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges (AATYC)

• ATT Foundation Scholarships

Vermont

• Central assessment system for state colleges

Tennessee

• Systemwide• Systemwide

CEO’s for Cities,

• Talent Dividend Prize

Achieving the Dream

• 160 Two-year colleges nationwide

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A SPECIAL REQUESTA SPECIAL REQUEST

Put us in touch with your Higher Education Put us in touch with your Higher Education leadership

• Commissioner• Secretary of Higher Ed, etc

Leadership of your private and public sector Higher Education Association

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Mark CampbellMark CampbellVP for LearningCounts.org

[email protected] g

Amy ShermanAVP for Policy & Strategic Alliances

[email protected]

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