CAEL Explains Competency-Based Education and PLA

I was thrilled to see that someone has finally taken up the challenge of trying to illustrate the relationship between prior learning assessment (PLA) and competency-based education (CBE).  Both terms have a long history in the field of higher education, and many people use them in ways that I find problematic (see Obstacles for Competency-Based …

Obstacles for Competency-Based Education Programs of the Future

Competency-based education is not a new idea; however, it has only recently grabbed widespread attention as a viable alternative to traditional education.  This model offers students an opportunity to earn a degree at their own pace, while effectively leveraging what they have learned in and out of the classroom.  As competency-based education has gained exposure, …

What the Department of Ed doesn’t understand about PLA and CBE

Despite what some may say, there is an undeniable relationship between prior learning assessment and competency-based education.  Prior learning assessment (PLA) is the measurement of what someone knows and can do based on their previous experiences and learning.  Competency-based education (CBE) is an educational methodology which credentials students in what they know and can do, …

The Problem with Snowflakes

This winter, many Americans became reacquainted with snowflakes in a big way.  Violent storms dropped as many as 120 inches of snow on some cities.  The vast amount of these tiny, uniquely shaped frozen water droplets was overwhelming.  Similarly, colleges and universities throughout the country were also recently overwhelmed by another kind of tiny, and …

A New Kind of OER Course

Open Education has made great strides over the past few years.  Despite being conflated with MOOCs in the media, the good folks at OpenStax College, Lumen Learning, and organizations like them, have saved students millions in the cost of textbooks.  Not only that, they’ve improved student outcomes, as finally, every student in the class has …

Why is it so hard for Open Ed professions to talk to each other?

As many of you know, this week was the Open Courseware Consortium’s “Open Education Week;” which according to their website is “a series of events to increase awareness of open education movement.” This is the third year they’ve put this program together, and they generally have a good turnout. Last year I presented with Tina …

Thomas Edison State College’s Open Course Option

Since their inception, MOOCs have been touted as the answer to the ever-rising cost of college tuition.  However, while their enrollments have soared, many people have wondered what their real impact on tuition, and higher education, has been.  Some are already calling MOOCs a failed experiment as Udacity and Coursera turn away from higher ed …

MOOCs are not the Bad Guy

Sebastian Thrun announced last week that Udacity was going to be pivoting away from higher education to pursue corporate education partnerships.  And then the internet exploded. What has ensued has been a lot of football spiking and endzone dancing by people who felt that MOOCs were not the answer.  For instance, Jonathan Rees says “I …

The Great Missed Opportunity

MOOCs, man. A lot has been said about Massive Open Online Courses over the past two years or so.  Thousands of academics, administrators, and policy makers have struggled to determine their value and efficacy, millions of students enrolled, and many, many education commentators and journalists held them up as the salvation or destruction of higher …

Not quite a “Faustian Bargain”

In a recent Inside Higher Ed article, William Durden wrote warning of the dangers of competency-based education.  He compares it to a “Faustian Bargain.” In exchange for a comfortable and frustration-free learning experience, students will have to give up…a frustrating learning experience.  Clearly, akin to a deal with the devil.  However, he believes that by …