Transcription
Handbook forPriorLearningAssessmentUpdated May 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTSINTRODUCTION .2TO RECEIVE COLLEGE CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING .2FOUR WAYS WGTC STUDENTS CAN EARN PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT CREDIT .2WORK EXPERIENCE/EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING .2ACE-EVALUATED MILITARY TRAINING . 3APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING .4IN-SERVICE TRAINING, COMPANY AND PROFESSIONAL COURSES, WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES .4STEPS TO HELP IDENTIFY COLLEGE-LEVEL LEARNING .4PUTTING THE PORTFOLIO TOGETHER .5PREPARING YOUR PORTFOLIO .6DESCRIBING YOUR LEARNING (Narrative) .6DOCUMENTING YOUR LEARNING .7TYPES OF DOCUMENTATION .7LETTERS OF VERIFICATION .8IMPORTANT REMINDERS .8APPENDIXTIPS AND TECHNIQUES TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC LEARNING AREAS .10PLA APPLICATION AND TRACKING FORM .12PLA PORTFOLIO EVALUATION RUBRIC .14PLA PORTFOLIO CROSSWALK RUBRIC .161
INTRODUCTIONPrior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a pathway for assessing learning gained outside a traditionalacademic environment. This could be learning acquired through prior employment, volunteer, military,corporate training, independent study, non-credit courses, or other relevant experience. PLA is aprocess of evaluating what a student knows at the college-level derived from these experiences toaward college credit. PLA can save you time and money because you may not be required to takecourses for material you have already mastered. WGTC recognizes the importance of providingadvanced placement opportunities to students who have shown and demonstrated course masterythrough various methods. This manual provides an overview of the opportunities as well as theresponsibilities of all parties.TO RECEIVE COLLEGE CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING, YOU MUST MEETTHE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: You must demonstrate to a faculty member in the program in which you are enrolled thatyou possess college-level learning in the courses requested. Various methods may be usedincluding narrative descriptions, documentations, and verifications related to the subjectmatter of your accomplishments.You will need to show how you can apply theoretical concepts gained through your learningas they relate to the course objectives.Your prior learning portfolio credit cannot duplicate any other coursework completed orattempted in your program.Any credit earned through PLA is considered exemption/transfer credit. It does not fulfillany part of the residency credit requirements of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. Inorder to graduate from a program, at least 25% of a student’s program credit hours must becompleted at WGTC. In addition, it cannot be considered as current course work for yourfinancial aid. Portfolios do not receive grades; they are awarded credit hours.Credit received through PLA may only be awarded if the student has been employed in theoccupational field at least two of the last ten years.FOUR WAYS WGTC STUDENTS CAN EARN PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENTCREDIT1. WORK EXPERIENCE/EXPERIENTIAL LEARNINGWGTC recognizes that many professionals have extensive work experience in fields related to programsof study. In some cases, experiential learning is equitable to some college-level courses, especiallyintroduction courses or certain areas of specialization. If a student has such experiential learning,he/she may apply for credit by completion a PLA portfolio.Credit by portfolio will require the student to complete a portfolio. Upon submission of the portfolio tothe appropriate Dean, faculty will evaluate the documents and make credit recommendations. This2
process normally takes several weeks. Evaluators may ask for additional information from you, requestan interview with you, and/or require a demonstration of hands-on skills before making the final creditaward.After faculty members determine the credit award, they will return a copy of your portfolio and theevaluation form. The second copy will become part of the student’s academic records kept by thecollege and stored as all other student records. The credit recommendations will be forwarded to theDean of Academic Affairs for the program area and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) forfinal approval. Upon approval, the VPAA will forward the required documentation to the Office of theRegistrar.The semester hours awarded will appear on your transcript and your next grade report, carrying a TR(credit) designation. Prior Learning Assessments do not receive letter grades.Please note: When you submit a portfolio for evaluation, you are not guaranteed a credit award. If youare not satisfied with your portfolio's evaluation, you have the right to request a meeting with thefaculty evaluator(s) to discuss the evaluation. However, the final decision in all matters relating to thegranting of academic credit rests with the faculty evaluator(s) and college administration.2. ACE-EVALUATED MILITARY TRAININGWGTC may award credit for training received or work experience in the Armed Forces. We arecommitted to ensuring our military service members and veterans receive credit for their knowledgegained through training and their service to our country. The training or experience shall be certified bythe Guide to the Evaluation of Education Experiences in the Armed Services. The American Council onEducation (ACE) evaluates all military experiences for college credit recommendations. Credit shall begiven when training experience meets required competencies of courses offered at the institution.Students may obtain their information by accessing https://jst.doded.mil/smart/signIn.do or thefollowing:The Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System E Registry Transcript (SMART) https://jst.doded.mil/smart/signIn.doThe Community College of the Air Force Display/Article/803247/U.S. Coast Guard Institute https://jst.doded.mil/smart/signIn.doAARTS and SMART transcripts will display the ACE recommended credits for the service memberstraining. For Air Force service members and veterans who have attended the Community College of theAir Force, they will need to contact CCAF for their college transcripts.3
3. APPRENTICESHIP TRAININGWGTC will evaluate apprenticeship training for college credit. Consideration may be given to workingwith trade associations to evaluate prior apprenticeship training for college credit as well as offer part ofthe training through the college for credit. Proper documentation including a transcript or a trainingrecord may be required and needs to be included in a PLA Portfolio.4. IN-SERVICE TRAINING, COMPANY AND PROFESSIONAL COURSES, WORKSHOPS,CONFERENCESWGTC recognizes that many professionals complete extensive training sessions offered by theorganization or by the manufacturers of equipment with the rigor and content equitable to manycollege courses. Of course, this training should be considered when building your request and be acomponent of your portfolio. In other cases, these learning experiences may have been of shortduration--a short conference, a series of lectures, or a one-day workshop--which makes them difficult toassess as separate entities. However, you may consider combining them and collectively adding them toother experiences to help justify college-level learning. Such training will need to be included in the PLAPortfolio.WGTC will evaluate and may award credit for recognized proficiencies that equate to specific coursesoffered at their institutions. For example, police officers may receive some credit for police academytraining/POST training, and they can apply this credit to degree programs in criminal justice.Students may receive pre-approved credit for certifications and licensure, without completing aportfolio. However, official documentation of licensure/certification may be required. Contact the PLACoordinator for more information.STEPS TO HELP IDENTIFY COLLEGE-LEVEL LEARNINGThe first step in deciding if prior learning is an option is to determine if past experiences and trainingmight qualify as college-level learning. You must identify the subject areas in which you believe you havegained significant learning. If you are in doubt concerning a subject area, consult your faculty advisor.Refer to a WGTC catalog for a list of college departments and program areas.The second step in identifying your learning is to determine if your knowledge is worthy of college-levelcredit. Not all experiences and learning will be at the college level and it is important to understand thiswhen developing your request and portfolio.Some helpful criteria for testing whether your prior learning is college level is as follows: Your learning should have a theoretical base, which means you understand and can applythe principles of what you are able to do. Your learning should not be merely theapplication of a narrow set of skills or procedure. It should be broad-based and applied toother relevant situations.4
The subject is taught on the college level. Reviewing WGTC’s catalogs, syllabus receivedfrom PLA coordinator, and/or textbooks (reviewed in teacher classroom or library) may helpyou identify where your knowledge overlaps course material.In some instances a working or performance-based hands-on assessment may need to bedocumented to receive credit for lab-based courses.The third step is critical in that you must be able to document and demonstrate to an expert (faculty)in the discipline that you do possess the knowledge you claim. A subject matter expert should be able toreview and evaluate your experiential learning and assign college credit.PUTTING THE PORTFOLIO TOGETHERThe portfolio will be the final product of the request for credit. Keep in mind that the development ofthe portfolio will take considerable time and effort by the student and will be a critical component inidentifying and justifying what credit is reasonable and deserved. Faculty will base their decisions on thecontent of your portfolio; therefore, it is important that your portfolio be organized, so anyone canfollow it easily. A rubric used to score your PLA portfolio is located in the Appendix.Your completed portfolio should contain at the minimum the following elements:1.2.3.4.5.Request for Prior Learning Assessment Evaluation Form. You should fill out your name andyour student ID number. Advisors/Faculty evaluators will complete the rest of this form.Résumé. A current résumé gives the evaluators a sense of who you are and allows them tosee where your experience and prior learning fit into the total picture. Your résumé shouldinclude: Your name, mailing address, e-mail address, fax and telephone numbers Educational experience, with dates Employment experience, with dates Community activities Other activitiesLearning Outcomes/Course Syllabus. This will be provided by the PLA Coordinator.Description and Documentation of Learning (Your Narrative). This component is youropportunity to present to the evaluators a brief description of your experience and explainhow the documentation supports your requests. Keep in mind the evaluators may not befamiliar with certain certifications and other documents, and it is in your best interest toexplain their relevancy to the credit requested.Evidence supporting prior learning. Make sure that any item listed as supporting evidence isreference in the narrative. Work samples, letters of validation for work experience, job description Performance appraisals, evidence of public presentation, etc. Transcripts of formal academic courses (if applicable) or copies of non-creditcertificates or industry certificates5
6. Proof of membership in professional associations, community serviceorganizations, proof of certification, licensing, etc.Appendix. All documentation and supporting material not already included is placed in theappendix and referred to at the appropriate place in the body of the portfolio. Be sure tolabel your appendices (Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C, etc.) and to make all referencesto these appendices very clear.PREPARING YOUR PORTFOLIOOnce you have identified those areas where you have acquired college-level learning, you must selectwhich of them you will use to prepare a request and portfolio. You might more easily get credit forsome learning by taking an exemption exam, if available, for a fee. The exemption test fee is currently25 percent of the course tuition. These decisions are best made after close consultation with youradvisor.DESCRIBING YOUR LEARNING (Narrative)The first part of your portfolio will contain a description of your learning in the discipline, or subjectarea. Remember that a portfolio should focus on your knowledge and skills in one discipline(technology, business administration, computer information etc.) but may contain information aboutyour knowledge of several sub-topics, or courses (management, finance, etc.), within that discipline.For each specific subject you should make a brief statement on what you know. Then expand thatstatement by indicating how you acquired this knowledge, where, when, and in what context. You maywish to include the following information:1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.The various experiences that contributed to your learning: jobs, home activities, volunteeractivities, non-credit courses and seminars.An estimate for each experience of the amount of time you engaged in its activities.A description of where the experience took place and, if appropriate, under whosesupervision.A brief description of exactly what you did in each experience.An explanation of your position in relation to others involved in the learning experience.The number of persons who were responsible to you in the course of the experience andtheir duties.A description of how each experience contributed to your learning achievement.A description of the context in which the experience took place. It may be helpful to theperson reading your portfolio understand the circumstances in which you were operating atthe time. Be certain that all significant facts and events are included.Specific examples and illustrations of your work.The most vital section to your receiving college credit from your portfolio's evaluators is the summary inwhich you bring together the components of your learning and relate how it corresponds to that6
discipline's theories and concepts. You would be wise to consult specific course syllabus for the learningin which you are requesting credit.DOCUMENTING YOUR LEARNINGWhen you seek credit for prior learning, the burden of proof rests with you. You must demonstrate toan evaluator's satisfaction that you have learned what is stated in the portfolio. In addition, theevaluator often does not know you personally and must rely entirely on your portfolio; therefore,proper documentation is an important and integral part of the entire package. If documents are irrelevant for the experiences and are not necessary they will only makethe process more difficult for the evaluator(s). You would do better to provide adequatedocumentation and articulate clearly what you learned from the experience.It is a good practice to help evaluators by underlining, or highlighting those parts of thedocuments that are relevant to your learning.If you plan to submit products/work examples such as documentation, they should bephotographed or reduced to slides because of the possibility of loss or damage to theoriginals. Also, photographs and slides are more easily circulated to faculty than the originalworks. Your photos and slides should be labeled, signed, and dated by you. Any valuabledocuments such as licenses, certificates, letters, or commendations should be photocopiedfor use in the portfolio.TYPES OF DOCUMENTATIONThe type of documentation submitted can vary greatly based on experiences. The following tables aresuggested forms of documentation. It is by no means exclusive or fully comprehensive.WORK EXPERIENCEJob descriptionsLetters from supervisors, clients, peers.Explanation of tasks performedPerformance standards for acquiring licensesMembership and requirements in professional or tradeorganizationsSamples of workLetters of commendationPerformance evaluationsLicenses/CertificationsScores on licensing examsMilitary records (DD214, CCAF, SMART,Transcripts)Professional development plansCOMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIESCommendations and awardsLetters of verification from co-volunteers, clients served,supervisorsNewspaper and magazine clippingsNON-COLLEGIATE COURSES AND TRAININGTranscripts or training recordsNumber of hours spent on assignments, in class, or inclinical/practicum experiencesCourse descriptions, learning objectives, syllabiRecords of assignmentsLetters verifying enrollmentEvidence of completion7
SPECIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTSDesignsMachines designed and developed (patents)Samples of writingsWritten ProposalsBooks publishedSpeeches givenAudio-visual presentationsConversations with experts or CommitteeassignmentsOther ways of assessing learning which could be used to demonstrate the mastery of the subject butwhich can be harder to verify and document may include oral interviews, oral examinations, simulations,situational observations, etc. When you submit your portfolio, the evaluator may also requestadditional materials to further document the experience.LETTERS OF VERIFICATIONThe person preparing a written statement to verify and evaluate your experience should have directobserved knowledge of you during the experience you are claiming for credit. One person may verifyand evaluate more than one of your experiences. However, the statement should comment directly andclearly on each experience.In general, the statements should cover the points you have made in the narrative component in theportfolio and be relevant to the learning that has been achieved. Verify the writer is willing to write a letter before making a formal request.Those writing letters of verification for you should identify their relationship to you(supervisor, peer, subordinate) as well as their qualifications for commenting on yourexperience.The letter should be written on the official letterhead of the company or organization, inwhich the author is associated. Letters may be accepted in some instances if the author isno longer at the organization. The letter must be signed.It is important that the letter should document both the quality and quantity of theexperience which you have had.Portfolio documentation may be considered public information. A number of people willbe reviewing the documentation you furnish. Those who provide you with letters ofverification should be informed of this possibility.IMPORTANT REMINDERSKeep in mind as you submit your portfolio, you are requesting credit for college-level courses. Yourportfolio is expected to reflect college-level work. It should be thorough. It should be well organized.It should reflect clear thought and content relevant to your experiences.It should be grammatically accurate.It should be neatly typed.8
It should contain copies or examples of your work/documentation.It should include any proof of membership in professional associations, community serviceorganizations, proof of certification, licensing, etc.All pages should be numbered and all references to the documentation in the appendices.Appendix9
Tips and Techniques to Identify Specific Learning AreasThere are various methods you can use to identify and analyze your learning.Skills/Competencies/KnowledgeTry to identify the major areas of your learning by making a list of your skills and your knowledge. Keepin mind this is more of a brainstorming process than an in-depth concise list of competencies, so writequickly without being too selective. Your lists might look like the following examplesElectricalOhms law, schematics, series and parallel circuits, frequency meters, wire AWG , Codes and StandardsNEC codes, ANSI standards, safety practices, wire separations, conduit sizing, OSHA regulations, motors,Frequency drivesReview your list. Do any of the items represent college-level learning and are relevant to the field ofstudy? If, for example, you gained experience as a plant manager, you may want to break thisexperience down into sub-categories such as technical abilities, management, human resources, andbudgets and accounting principles.Jobs and ExperienceYou may find it easier to structure your thinking by reviewing each of your jobs or major experienceschronologically. The following headings may be useful to you in brainstorming:Job or ExperienceTelecommunications InstallationTechWhat I DidInstalled CablingSystemsInstalled CommunicationSystemsInstalled Data Networksand SystemsTelecommunications ServiceTechnicianRan Service CallsWhat I LearnedAC/DC Circuits/Terminations/Testing/Fiberoptic installationsInstallation best practices (standards) andsystem integration, Programming Concepts,System Design Concepts/Tool Use and SafetyConcepts. Commissioning of a System, V-mailTCP/IP, OSI model, Networking Concepts andAddressing , VOIP, Fiber Optics, BandwidthTheories and IssuesTroubleshooting Theories/Advanced TestingProcedures/Customer Service SkillsAfter you complete your lists for each job or important learning experience, you will begin categorizingwhat you have learned into credit-worthy learning components.Course TitlesIf you find yourself unable to get started using the first techniques, you might begin by making a randomlist of what you know. Using a college catalog, group together those skills or learning experiences thatare related to specific college courses. Some examples might be personnel management, news writing,computer programming, accounting, etc. Whatever method you select to identify your learning, youshould now be ready to list the college-level learning that has grown out of your life experiences.10
ExampleThe following example may be helpful to you.John was employed for five years as a supervisor at a telecommunications company. Prior to that, hewas a telecom technician installing voice and data systems and running service calls. He also spent fouryears as an avionics technician in the Air Force. He made the following list:Experience and What I LearnedTELECOM SUPERVISORAVIONICS TECHNICIAN Leadership SkillsManagement SkillsBudget Management SkillsCustomer Service SkillsDocumentation SkillsTELECOMMUNICATIONS TECH Installation skillsResearch and Design skillsGrounding and Bonding SkillsSafety PracticesAntenna TheorySafety Practices and ProceduresTroubleshooting and RepairTest Equipment UtilizationSoldering TechniquesAC/DC Theory and ApplicationsTroubleshooting SkillsTeamwork SkillsCommunication SkillsRF Theory and ApplicationUsing the previous process, one can identify some general disciplines in which to place the skills andknowledge. After analyzing the list and consulting with a faculty advisor, applicable areas anddepartments and the possible courses the learning might fulfill within each discipline can be listed: Managemento Leadershipo Principles of Managemento Managerial Account and Financeo Performance ManagementElectrical/Electronicso AC/DC Circuitso Safetyo Test Equipment FundamentalsTelecommunicationso Cable Installationo Fiber Optic Systemso Communication Platformso Troubleshooting and Repair11
Prior Learning AssessmentApplication and Tracking FormCampus: Ben-Hill Irwin Coffee Cook Valdosta(Please Print)First Name: Last Name:Student ID: Application Date:Program of Study: Phone:Street Address:City: State: Zip Code:Email Address:Student Signature:Prior Learning Assessment Credit Options: (Choose all that are applicable) Credit by Portfolio/Prior Knowledge Skills: Credit by developing a portfolio that will demonstrateprior knowledge and skills which equate to Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) for the course. Credit by Certification/Licensure: Credit by using the PLA Crosswalk. American Council on Education (ACE)/National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS):Credit for workplace education or training programs through ACE or NCCRS. *Applicationdirectly sent to Registrar.American Council on Education (ACE) Military Training/Experience: Credit for militarytraining/experience through ACE. *Application directly sent to Registrar if ACE recommendationslisted.PLA Credit is recommended for the following course(s) with each course evaluation rubric attached:PLA Page 12
Prior Learning AssessmentApplication and Tracking FormStudent ID:Action ItemApplication and portfolio (ifapplicable) received by PLACoordinator from studentStaff atureDean submits portfolio toappropriate facultyFaculty completesassessment and returns toDeanDean submits portfolio toVPAA for approvalVPAA submits portfolio toPresident for approvalPresident approves andsubmits to Registrar (if PLAgranted)PLA credit (if granted) sent toRegistrarDirector of Academic Affairsadds exceptions to DGW (ifrequired)PLA Coordinator informsstudent of credit receivedPLA Page 13
Prior Learning AssessmentPortfolio Evaluation RubricStudent ID: Course Reviewed:Faculty Evaluator: Program:ElementCriteriaSatisfactory UnsatisfactoryKNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING DEMONSTRATED (EXPERIENCE)Documentation anddescription oflearningexperienceSources adequately document lifeexperience pertinent to course objectives;are effectively discussed in the narrativeessay, and its significance and relevance tocourse learning outcomes is clear.EVIDENCE OF LEARNING (COMPETENCIES)Evidence (overall)Student provides evidence of learning fromexperience.Evidence aligned withcourse competenciesStudent provides adequate andappropriate evidence of each coursecompetency listed in the course syllabusand course description.Evidence aligned withpersonal experienceStudent clearly demonstrates clearlearning derived the student’sexperience.Experience clearly represents thestudent’s understanding of the topic.Evidence aligned withacademic theoryAppropriate amount and use of academictheory is integrated within the submission,so that the student’s learning is grounded inthe academic frameworks of the topic.PORTFOLIO PRESENTATION (QUALITY)College-level writingUses appropriate depth and breadth todemonstrate learning related toexperiences, skills, and competencies.Narrative demonstrates college levelwriting including: organization,punctuation, effective word usage, intext citations, and end-of-textreferences.PLA Page 14
DocumentationOverall PresentationComponents ofPortfolioCorrect and effective word usage andvocabulary.Each sentence structured effectively;variety of sentence styles and length.Correct use of punctuation, spelling,capitalization errors.Documentation is effective evidence ofexperience; documentation displays evidentintegration of key concepts outlined insyllabus.PLA portfolio is well-organized, usesadequate subheadings clearly alignedwith competencies, and progresses inlogical, convincing order.Index of portfolio sections includedAppropriate format and presentation forassignment.PLA submission is professionallypresented, complete, and clear.Portfolio contains the following items as aminimumApplication and ApprovalFormResumeDescription and Documentation ofLearningCourse SyllabusEvidence Supporting Prior LearningAppendix (if necessary)Final Recommendation (to be completed by Faculty Evaluator)Criteria for Credit Received: Student must score at the minimum level of “satisfactory” in each elementof the rubric.CheckoneRecommendationFacultyDeanVPAACredit Awarded: all rubric elements arerated satisfactoryResubmission requested: Hands-on Demonstration Requested:faculty to schedule with student Portfolio resubmission to further meetrequirementsCredit Denied: There is not enoughevidence to meet all course requirementsComments (add sheet if needed)PLA Page 15
Prior Learning AssessmentCrosswalk RubricStudent Name:Faculty Evaluator:Requested CourseStudent ID:Program:Documentation Included(must match approved PLA Crosswalk)CreditApprovedCredit NotAppr
including narrative descriptions, documentations, and verifications related to the subject matter of your accomplishments. You will need to show how you can apply theoretical concepts gained through your learning as they relate to the course objectives. Your prior learning portfolio credit cannot duplicate any other coursework completed or
