While courses provide students with a familiar learning environment, Metropolitan State also encourages students to seek a variety of creative learning strategies. To explore these unique ways of gaining college credit First College offers working labs for Prior Learning Assessment and Student-Directed Learning. Creative Learning Strategies include prior learning evaluation, theory seminars, independent studies, online learning, and internships.
Getting Credit for What You Know
What you have learned in your life and work is important and, when appropriate, it may be recognized as legitimate college-level learning. To earn college credit for prior experiential learning, a number of important prior learning criteria need to be met to ensure that the learning meets quality guidelines. In many cases a diagnostic test is available to assess your theoretical and practical knowledge. The diagnostic test is a tool to help you determine which path you should take: prior, experiential learning evaluation, theory seminar, or traditional course.
Metropolitan State conducts assessment of prior learning in a way consistent with the MnSCU policy and a University policy is in development.
See the following chart for strategies in evaluating prior learning:
|
Strategy |
Benefits |
Drawbacks |
|
ACE Credit |
Free |
Only training already approved by ACE is covered |
|
Inexpensive Can prepare for in advance |
Not available for all subjects Not for the test-phobic | |
|
Less classroom time Gain new knowledge |
Not available for all subjects Not always available | |
|
|
Flexible subjects, any area of knowledge |
Tuition same as new course |
The strategies in getting credit for what you know that are available at Metropolitan State are Prior Learning Assessment and Theory Seminars:
- Prior Learning Assessment is a systematic process to identify learning gained through life or work and assess it for college credit. For more information contact Marcia.Anderson@metrostate.edu
- Working Labs on Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) and Student-Directed Learning (SDL) for First College students will be held regularly during the academic year. Click the PLA Lab Flyer for the schedule, and RSVP to Marica.Anderson@metrostate.edu
- Theory seminars provide an alternative to the prior learning assessment process. Theory seminars are learning opportunities designed specifically for students with extensive experience and practical knowledge in a subject, but limited theoretical learning.
Traditional courses require that competence be proven with both the practical and theortical components.