PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT PORTFOLIO - polk.edu

PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENTCollege Credit for Non-formal Learning
POLK STATE COLLEGE
Earn College Credit For Non-Formal Learning – Life and Work Experience!
A Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Portfolio allows you to gain credit for knowledge you have gained in a variety of ways other than formal education.It is a process by which you demonstrate that what you have learned is equivalent to the learning taught in a postsecondary class.
How is Work/Life ExperienceEvaluated?
Students develop a portfolio that provides documentation that course outcomes have been metCourse outcomes are met throughTrainingWork experienceResponsibility/expertiseLife experienceNote: Submission of portfolio does not guarantee credit will be approved.Credit is awarded forlearningthat occurred through experience – not for the experience itself.
Examples of Where Learning Occurs
ExperienceEmploymentWorkshopsNon-credit coursesEmployer-sponsored trainingTravelProfessional developmentVolunteer activitiesAwards
ConferencesIndependent readingOnline trainingProjectsWork ExperienceWebinarsRecreation/hobbiesSelf-directed studyLicenses (that do not qualify for articulated credit)
Elements of a Portfolio
Cover pageTable of contentsRequest for Prior LearningAssessment CreditsformCoursesyllabus/syllabi with detailed course learning outcomesAbstractAutobiographyResumeGoal statements/degree auditChronological recordNarrative about knowledge acquired/significant learning outcomeBibliographyDocuments demonstrating learning outcomes achievedAppendicesEvaluation forms
Goal Statements
How prior learning assessment relates to your educational goal(s)Statement on course(s) or outcomes being petitioned for creditSignature of Authenticity – a signed statement stating the information provided is accurate and true representations
Chronological Record
ResumeExpandedWith or without training recordsDetail significant activitiesChart formatWhat you know and can doWork experienceNon-formallearning
Narrative About Knowledge Acquired
An essay or competency statements demonstrating the match between student’s learning and college-level outcomes for each course petitioned.One essay is submitted for each course petitioned.
Documentation
Documents submittedmust demonstrate learning outcomesachieved.
Documentation – Captions or Artifacts
Job DescriptionsPerformance AppraisalsTranscriptsSamples of WorkTestimonialsCertificates of AttendanceEvidence of Knowledge
Appendices/Evaluation Forms
Additional materials if necessary such as references used in citationsForms used by faculty assessor(s) to write the credit recommendation
Questions to ask yourself
Can I differentiate my learning from my experience?Am I able to demonstrate my learning is appropriate in level and content to the course outcomes I am seeking?Can I demonstrate I possess the knowledge from my experience over time?Cont’d on next page
Questions Continued
Am I able to demonstrate my learning for the courses I am requesting so it can be evaluated by an expert in the course/subject area?Do I understand both practical and theoretical applications of the course(s)?Is my learning able to be applied in general situations?
Criteria
In order to receive credit for PLA, the experience must becollege levelapplicable to more than one environmentable to be validatedrelevant to the student’s degree programnon-duplicative of credit that has already been earned.All of the above criteria must be met!
SLS2370 PLA Portfolio Development
SLS 2370 is a 2-credit,eight-weekonline course.This course provides:an overview of the portfolio development processstructured activities to build components of a portfolioasystematic approach to portfolio developmentdirection in organization of documentationsamples of each portfolio requirement
How Do I Get Started?
Qualifications forPLA. You must:Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program at Polk State CollegeHave completed ENC 1101 and either attained placement in college-level math or completed college preparatory math coursesHave a minimum of 3 years professional experienceGotowww.polk.edu/pla. Reviewthe followingdocuments and complete the tasks:Polk State Prior Learning Assessment Portfolio PowerPoint(answer questions)Polk State Prior Learning Portfolio Guidelines(write abstract)Cont’d
How Do I Get Started, cont’d
CompletePolk State Request for Prior Learning Assessment Creditform and submit to appropriate program director. Students must attach to this formaBasic Course Information(BCI)sheetforeachcourse they are requesting credit for (seewww.polk.edu/bci)responsesto PLA questionsfrom thePolk State Prior Learning Assessment PortfolioPowerPointthe abstract written from thePolk State Prior Learning Portfolio GuidelinesA resumeUnofficial copies of college transcripts(if applicable)
How Do I Get Started,Con’t
Meetwith appropriateprogramdirectorOnceprogramdirectorapproves request to pursue PLA, decide whether to develop the portfolio independently or to take SLS 2370PLA Portfolio Developmentto assist with portfolio development (taking this course is recommended).PayPLA feeof $50 per credit requested. This is a nonrefundable fee.Keep receipt to submit withportfolio.Build portfolio and submit to appropriateprogram director.