At Thomas Edison State University, we value the college-level knowledge you may have acquired outside the traditional college classroom. Using the University’s portfolio assessment program, students demonstrate that what they already know is equivalent to what they would have learned in an comparable college course.

Our brief PLA Self-Assessment is designed to help you understand your options for earning credit through prior learning assessment (PLA), which is a process that enables you to earn credit for college-level knowledge you have acquired outside the traditional classroom that is equivalent to what would have been learned in a college course on the same subject.

Portfolio Assessment:

Why you should consider this method of earning credit.

By Todd Siben, Former Assistant Director, Portfolio Assessment

There is no question that portfolio assessment is an efficient way to earn credit for what you already know and a great strategy to use if you wish to complete your degree more affordably and in less time.

Many of our students have earned a significant number of credits for prior learning through the development and submission of portfolios. The ability to recognize and award credit for prior learning is a foundation of the University's academic model.

Here are some questions to consider if you're considering portfolio assessment:

Why should you consider portfolio assessment? There are a number of benefits to submitting a portfolio for assessment. The process can validate your expertise in a subject as well as allow you to avoid taking a standard course on a topic in which you're already highly competent. This, in turn, can expedite your path to a degree and allowing you to focus on taking courses aligned with your academic goals.

Exactly what's in a portfolio? A portfolio contains a narrative (the portion that you write) and evidence (items that prove and support the fact that you have the knowledge that you claim to have). A narrative answers questions such as:

"What do you know about the subject matter of the course for which you're trying to earn credit?"

The narrative also asks you to tell the story about how, when, where and why you learned the knowledge. You must also talk about how you use or apply the knowledge. Finally, introduce the evidence items you're providing, and explain why you've provided them or what they demonstrate. A typical narrative can vary in length depending on the scope and depth of your background in the subject. We've seen excellent narratives of 10 pages and other narratives that were 50 to 60 pages in length that missed the mark. Credit is not awarded by the length of your submission.

We look for your ability to accurately address the learning outcomes and other portfolio components. Evidence typically includes letters or support, certificates of training, performance reviews and samples of your work. Often portfolios include links to videos of students performing a task like musical or theatrical performances, oral presentations, lab work or business project briefings. If your knowledge was gained through books or online resources, you would also include a bibliography that lists those sources. Evidence can vary in length depending on what you present. A video presentation and a few letters of support can be enough to convince the evaluating subject matter expert (SME) to award the requested credit.

What academic support is offered during the development of your portfolio? Students who are considering earning credits toward a degree program through portfolio assessment learn how to write and develop their portfolios as part of the University's Introduction to Portfolio Development PLA-100 and PLA-200 courses. Upon completion of PLA-100, you will have learned how to identify specifically what credit you may be able to earn. Staff in the Office of Academic Advising will review your list of potential portfolios to ensure that the credits apply to your degree. You’ll also learn to flesh out the details of your portfolios, upload and register them for review and potential credit. Through a series of activities and tasks in the PLA-200 course, you will learn how to break down your learning and connect it to the knowledge taught in any number of accredited courses. You will also learn how to expand your information to address the course objectives and how to provide proof of your learning. Finally, you’ll learn how to format your portfolio. Upon completion of PLA-200, staff in the PLA office will provide you with ongoing support.

So, are you a good candidate for PLA credit? We have designed an online self-diagnostic tool so you can gain a better sense of how good a candidate you are for earning credit for prior learning. This 20-question quiz is designed to help you understand your options for earning credit for the college-level knowledge you may have earned outside of a college classroom. This can include knowledge gained through professional and military training, work, licenses and certifications or other experiences, including credit-by-exam programs.

Learn more about portfolio assessments and other methods of earning credit for what you already know. To decide whether prior learning assessment (PLA) is for you, take the PLA Self-Assessment.

When you're ready to move forward, you can talk to an academic advisor about registering for the courses. If you still have questions, feel free to email us.


Insights Home »