28
LEARNINGCOUNTS.ORG: A NEW PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT INITIATIVE PRESENTED BY MARK CAMPBELL & DOROTHY WAX
LEARNINGCOUNTS.ORG: A NEW PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT INITIATIVE
PRESENTED BY MARK CAMPBELL & DOROTHY WAX
ABOUT 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 national network of hundreds of colleges and universities
2
CAEL’S INTERMEDIARY ROLECAEL is unique in its knowledge of adult/employee learning practices and in its ability to work as an active intermediary between :
3
WHY DOES COLLEGE COMPLETION MATTER TO OUR NATION?
U.S. position as a world leader in education has slipped in recent years, from 4th place in 1997 to 11th place in 2009
By 2018, 62% of jobs will require some college or above
But only 40% of adults 25-34 have attained a post secondary degree
4
Source: Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements through 2018, Georgetown University, Center for Education and the Workforce, June 2010
CAEL’S RESPONSE:
5
Grant Credit for College Level Learning from Work and Life Experience
CAEL’S HISTORY AS LEADER IN PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT (PLA)
For 37 years, nationally recognized as the leader in the assessment of learning from life and work experience
Wrote the standards and best practices followed by colleges and universities
Trained hundreds of faculty and colleges in how to assess learning
Recognized by regional accrediting bodies
6
LEARNINGCOUNTS.ORG BASED ON CAEL RESEARCH
48-institution study of PLA and academic outcomes (funded by Lumina Foundation)
62,475 total adult students in sample (adult = age 25 or older)
PLA increases graduation rates and persistence; decreases time to degree completion
Fueling the Race to Postsecondary Success,Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, March 2010
7
HOW CAN PLA HELP?
PLA’s Effect on Graduation Rates
8
Fueling the Race to Postsecondary Success, CAEL, March 2010
GRADUATION RATE BY INSTITUTION LEVEL
9
SUMMARY – GRADUATION RATES
PLA students in this study had better graduation rates than non-PLA students:•regardless of institutional size, level (two-year or four-year) or control (private for-profit, non-profit, or public)
•regardless of the individual student’s academic ability or grade point average
•regardless of the individual student’s age, gender, or race/ethnicity
•regardless of whether or not the individual student receives financial aid
10
TIME TO BACHELOR’S DEGREE
11
SUMMARY – TIME TO DEGREE
PLA students earned bachelor’s degrees faster, compared with non-PLA students – between 2.5 and 10.1 months faster, depending upon the number of PLA credits earned.
PLA earners with associate’s degrees saved on average between 1.5 and 4.5 months in earning their degrees, compared to non-PLA students earning associate’s degrees.
12
WHY CAEL CREATED LEARNINGCOUNTS.ORG
Not enough colleges granting credit for prior learning
Need for consistent standards
Adult learners are not aware of PLA so they often repeat what they already know
Need for a national, on-line approach with easy access
Ability to use faculty experts nationwide to review learning portfolios in various disciplines
13
14
LEARNINGCOUNTS.ORG
LC.org educates students (adult learners), colleges, universities, employers and workforce organizations about the various ways individuals can earn college credit for college level learning acquired from work and life experience
15
PARTNERS
Partners in LearningCounts.org are the American Council on Education (ACE CREDIT) and the College Board (CLEP)
ACE CREDIT will transcript credit recommendations made by LearningCounts.org faculty. To view a list of colleges and universities that accept ACE CREDIT transcripts, please visit http://www2.acenet.edu/programs/ccrs/adult_learners/
The College Board provides students the opportunity to receive college credit for what they already know by earning qualifying scores on any of 33 examinations. To view a list of examinations offered by the College Board/CLEP, please visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/exams.html
16
LEARNINGCOUNTS.ORG FACT SHEET
Website and first online class launched January 24, 2011
Three sections completed, two currently running with another to begin before July
Over 500 LearningCounts.org faculty
Over 80 pilot institutions have agreed to send students to LC.org for assessment and to accept the credit recommendations in transfer
We are recruiting more colleges, universities and community colleges as pilot institutions, and in reaching agreements with state systems
17
HOW STUDENTS USE LEARNINGCOUNTS.ORG
1. Talk to an Advisor - students have the option to speak one-on one with an advisor to find out which LearningCounts.org PLA option is right for them LearningCounts.org – an online process to demonstrate learning
by creating a portfolio and having it reviewed for credit
The College Board - students can take a CLEP exam to demonstrate learning outcomes in a particular subject
ACE CREDIT – evaluates training offered by the military, employers, government agencies, and professional associations
Cost: No Charge
18
HOW STUDENTS USE LEARNINGCOUNTS.ORG
2. Enroll in CAEL 100: Prior Learning Assessment Theory and Practice
A six-week, three credit, online course
Course will teach students how to document their college level learning and lead them through the development of their portfolio.
Courses start every few weeks
Cost: $500
19
HOW STUDENTS USE LEARNINGCOUNTS.ORG
3. Create and Submit Your Portfolio
Compile a portfolio for up to six (6) credits to be evaluated by a faculty expert, or multiple portfolios in numerous subject areas
Faculty from colleges and universities from across the country will evaluate the portfolios and make a credit recommendation
Credits will be recorded on an American Council on Education (ACE CREDIT) transcript
Cost: $250 for 1-6 credits attempted in the same discipline
20
SAMPLE PILOT INSTITUTIONSOver 80 colleges and universities serving as LearningCounts.org
pilot institutions and over 1,000 schools accept ACE CREDIT transcripts
21
OUTREACH AND MARKETING EFFORTS
22
COLLABORATION WITH EMPLOYERS
2nd quarter, 2011—Launching campaign to educate employers about LearningCounts.org
Pilot launched in February 2011 with Starbucks
Working with McDonald’s Corporation , Brunswick, BJC Healthcare, Verizon Wireless and Verizon to bring LC.org to their employees and pay for the costs from their tuition benefit programs
Interested in working with more employers in targeted urban areas
23
OUTREACH & MARKETING:BACK TO COLLEGE INITIATIVES
Graduate! Philadelphia
Back To College (Chicago)
Louisville: 55,000 Degrees
Northeast Ohio Talent Dividend
24
NEW DEVELOPMENTS URBAN STRATEGY:
Select 6-8 urban areas /regions for a targeted outreach campaign to promote LearningCounts.org
To date: San Antonio, El Paso, Houston, Boston, Seattle, Philadelphia, Chicago are candidates
Approach regional and local foundations for support
Open to other urban areas where there are active pilot colleges
25
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
26
NEXT STEPS
27
DISCUSSION OF NEXT STEPS NEEDED TO WORK TOGETHER
Mark Campbell, Ed.d
Vice President, LearningCounts.org
312-499-2360
Dorothy Wax
Senior Director of CAEL Career Services and H.R.
215-731-7168
28
