Introduction to Building Your Portfolio

What is PLA?

PLA = Prior Learning Assessment

“Process of earning college credit from learning acquired through a student’s work, training, volunteer experiences, and personal life.” – Colvin, 2006

Credit by examination Portfolio of experiential learning Transfer credit evaluation Training and certifications evaluation Placement exams Simulations Interviews Work sample evaluation Demonstration Prepared Speeches

Portfolio = “A formal communication presented by the student” (Colvin, 2006)

Identifies and articulates learning clearly Includes sufficient evidence to support

the student’s learning claims Evaluated by Subject Matter Experts

Kaplan University Faculty with Subject Area Expertise

Can lessen the amount of time and money to earn a college degree

Portfolio Assessment is based on a student’s experiential learning

Experiential Learning = Any learning that has been acquired as a result of reflecting upon events or experiences in a person’s life.

Case Study 1: Shannon 

Shannon has been a software developer for 12 years. She entered the field after completing one semester of college when she was presented with a full time job offer from a local computer company. Shannon was always good with computers and needed the money to help with her father’s medical treatment. She has been instrumental in developing software requirements and implementing new products for the company. While in her current position as a developer, Shannon has mastered Visual Basic, Java, and programming language structures. Now, she realizes the importance of a college degree to advance in her field and has decided to return to school and pursue a bachelor of science in software development. Shannon believes she would be a good candidate for the portfolio assessment program at Kaplan.

Case Study 2: James

James has been working on his parent’s farm since the age of 6. He has learned how to use all of the farming equipment and has learned how to manage the business of the farm. James completed an associate degree in business at a local community college shortly after completing high school. Since then, he has worked on the farm and volunteered his time at the local children’s shelter. At the age of 45, James has decided to pursue a degree in business. He enrolls in the Bachelor of Science in Business program at Kaplan University and sends his transcripts to the PLAC for evaluation.

Students develop a portfolio of their experiential learning.

Students develop one portfolio for multiple courses.

Kaplan does not guarantee the award of college credit.

Students need to complete all requirements and document their experiential learning in order to be a candidate for credit for that learning.

Steps in the

Portfolio Development and

Assessment Process

In EL 203, students will explore their prior learning and begin developing their

portfolio.

Students will: Explore their prior sponsored learning Search the Course Explorer for courses that match

their learning Develop the Components of their Portfolio Determine for which courses they will petition for

credit Write credit requests for the courses they select Provide supporting documentation of their learning

Time to Complete the PortfolioDevelop multiple credit requestsFinishing touches on the portfolio

Student Assistance ProvidedPortfolio Development and Assessment TeamEmail and AOL Instant MessengerTelephone chats with their Academic Advisors

Students must submit their portfolio by the deadline (30 calendar days after EL 203 ends)

Faculty evaluator(s) review and evaluate your portfolio for college credit using the evaluation criteria set forth by Kaplan University and developed according to CAEL standards.

Faculty Evaluator Characteristics:Credentialed in their area of expertiseRecent college-level teaching experienceExperience teaching courses in their area of expertise for Kaplan University or another regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher educationExperience that aligns with Kaplan University’s departmental hiring policies for faculty

Credit Recommendation LetterSent to student via email Includes:

Results for each credit request Feedback on each credit request from the

faculty evaluator

Credit recommendations are written to the student’s Kaplan University transcript before the student receives notification of the results.

Students who participate in portfolio assessment are required to pay:

Tuition for EL 203 – Current Kaplan University Tuition Rate

Portfolio Development Course Fee - $1500.00

The course fee is: One-time fee Billed to the student in the beginning of EL 203 Covers the cost of the evaluation and all administrative

processes Only refundable to students who do not submit their

portfolio for evaluation

Reminder: Students must successfully complete (pass) EL 203 in order to submit their portfolio.

Five Components of a Student Portfolio

1. Educational Goal Statement2. Expanded Resume3. Learning Autobiography4. Credit Request5. Supporting Documentation

Key Concepts

Goal setting is the first step in the prior learning assessment process.

Goal setting allows students to make informed decisions about their education.

A strong goal statement is clearly written and provides the reader with specific information on where the student plans to go.

Instructor’s Role in Goal SettingHelp students formulate a strong

educational goal statement

A strong goal statement is: clearly written provides specific information on what

the student intends to achieve or direction on where they would like to go

Clear goals will help students:

decide for which areas of learning to request credit

know where to spend their time and effort when deciding on the courses for which to petition for credit based upon their current degree plan.

Specific and clearly written goals will also help the faculty evaluator understand

the student’s work and credit requests.

Educational goal statement :

should be at least 150 words long average = 200-400 words in length

Chapter 2, pages 27-29 offer some helpful tips and a sample. 

Consider the following questions: Why did you decide to attend or return to college?  What are you interested in learning about?  Why?  What has happened to you in your life that has led you to

want a college education?

Save your educational goal statement!It will be part of your portfolio.

Note: Once I have graded your Educational Goal Statement and you have revised it (if necessary), log in to the Portfolio Development and Assessment System (PDAS) and enter it into your electronic portfolio. You will be able to copy and paste the contents of your Educational Goal Statement into the text box in the system. Although this is not a requirement of this course to use the system, you are required to submit your final portfolio electronically through the system. Placing your Educational Goal Statement into the system after it has been graded will save you time later.

Review the PowerPoint Presentation in DocSharing Kaplan_Elec_PDAS_Student

Create Your Account in PDAS Week 2 – Receive an Email from “Do Not Reply”

Address Invitation Email to Create Your PDAS Account Create Your Account Immediately Save Your Account Information in a Safe Place Discard Invitation Email After Account Creation

Expanded Resume Using the PDAS to Create Your

Expanded Resume