1. Prior Learning Assessment and Competency-Based Programs Becky Klein-Collins, CAEL March 5, 2013 Becky Klein-Collins/ Dorothy Wax February 12, 2014

2. Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a process for evaluating knowledge and skills in order to award college credit for learning from: On-the-job learning Corporate training Independent study Military service Volunteer service 2

3. 3 PLA Takes Many Forms Challenge exams NCCRS/ACE recommended credit (military and corporate training) Standardized exams (CLEP, AP, DSST, Uexcel) Student Portfolio College Credit

4. PLA does not give credit for experience. PLA gives credit for demonstrated learning. 4

5. 5

6.  What is important: what a student has learned, what they know, what they can do  What is not important: where and how they learned it 6 PLA and CBE

7. CAEL CBE Publications  Sharpening Our Focus on Learning: The Rise of Competency- Based Approaches to Degree Completion. (Klein-Collins, 2013) National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA) Occasional Paper #20. http://www.learningoutcomeassessment.org/occasionalpapers. htm http://www.learningoutcomeassessment.org/occasionalpapers. htm  CAEL Forum and News 2013, Competency Based Education, http://www.cael.org/pdfs/CAEL_competency_based_education _2013 http://www.cael.org/pdfs/CAEL_competency_based_education _2013  Meeting Students Where They Are: Profiles of Students in Competency-Based Degree Programs. CAEL and Center for American Progress http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/higher- education/report/2013/11/07/79064/meeting-students-where- they-are http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/higher- education/report/2013/11/07/79064/meeting-students-where- they-are

8. www.cael.org www.LearningCounts.org 8 For more information