Prior

Learning Assessment Portfolio

Student Documents

Table of Contents




Are You a Good Candidate for Prior Learning Assessment?



Planning Your PLA Portfolio







How do I Complete a PLA Portfolio?






Prior Learning Inventory Document

Are You a Good Candidate for Prior Learning Assessment?

Before you begin work on a PLA portfolio, there are some things you will need to
consider. The most important is whether or not you can provide evidence that you
possess the university-level knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to satisfy the
course learning objectives of a Brandman University course.

The second is whether earning credits for that course will actually help you move
more quickly to your degree. You want to be sure that you are not duplicating a
course you have already completed, or that you will be earning credit for a course
not required for your program.

Finally, every university requires that students complete a minimum number of
academic units at their institution before they can earn a Bachelors degree from
that institution. This is called a residency requirement and the credit minimum
varies depending upon your major program. PLA credit cannot be used to satisfy
residency requirements.

For the above reasons, students should consult their academic advisor before
beginning work on a Prior Learning Assessment portfolio.

For other PLA questions, advisors and students can contact the PLA Coordinator:
PLACoordinator@brandman.edu

Planning Your PLA Portfolio

1. Identify the KSAs you possess that are equivalent to college-level academic
coursework. List what you have learned from the following places: jobs you
hold or have held, certificate, training, or in-service programs you have
completed (including military experience), substantial volunteer or
community experience you may have, or work you have done in foreign
countries or through service or career organizations. What knowledge, skills,
and abilities do you have as a result?

For example: Do you have extensive experience managing employees? Have
you supervised projects to a successful conclusion? Have you run a
substantial marketing initiative, drawn up a department budget, or taught
training courses in areas crucial to your line of work? Are you a long-time
accountant or financial services supervisor? Have you been programming
computers for years and have some projects you can present and discuss in a
portfolio? Are you a public speaker who delivers numerous lectures or
presentations each year? Are you a working artist with extensive background
in contemporary art?

2. Evaluate this list objectively. Are these KSAs equivalent to a university-level
course?

3. Once you have identified and evaluated your KSAs and have determined that
you wish to proceed with the PLA portfolio process, browse the Brandman
University catalog to select the course or courses for which you intend to
submit a portfolio.
4. Locate the syllabus for the course you wish to challenge. You can find the
syllabus for all university course on the MyBrandman webpage under
Academic Resources. Study the syllabus carefully to be sure you can
demonstrate mastery of at least 80% of the stated course learning objectives.
You will be writing a detailed Learning Narrative essay that not only
demonstrates, with evidence, that you have mastered these objectives, but
also that you can discuss them in an academic way.

5. Complete the PLA Learning Inventory document (at the end of the document)
and discuss the course choices and the inventory with your academic
advisor.

6. If after meeting with your advisor and reviewing steps 1-5, you decide to
develop and submit a PLA portfolio, collect your artifacts. These are the items
that will help you prove you have the skills you claim to possess. Artifacts are
evidencethey can be items such as work projects, skills evaluations written
by supervisors, letters of achievement, copies of a license or certificate along
with a description of work required to earn it, video clips, audio recordings,
web site links, transcripts, etc. Make sure that whatever artifacts you provide
that they directly address the objectives of the course. Reviewing the
artifacts before you begin work will help you shape both your Personal
Assessment and Learning Narrative essays.

7. Proceed to the PLA Portfolio process instructions.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Portfolio Instructions

Complete the following before beginning work on your PLA portfolio:

1. Select an appropriate course in consultation with your academic advisor.

2. Download the syllabus for the course (located on MyBrandman)

3. Study the learning objectives for the selected course as listed on the syllabus.

4. Identify and gather your evidence/artifacts/documentation prior to
beginning work on the portfolio in order to expedite your progress.


How do I Complete a PLA Portfolio? : Instructions

A portfolio is a single document containing a number of elements that together
combine to present a picture of student learning. It is used to equate experiential
learning to a specific college course or courses for credit, and is evaluated by a
faculty member who is an expert in that field.

The elements of the portfolio include:

1. Cover page
2. Table of contents
3. Expanded Resume
4. Self-Assessment (500 words)
5. Student Learning Narrative with Evidence (2000-2500 words)
6. References page (APA format)
7. Index for additional artifacts or evidence, letters of verification, or other
documents if needed.

II. Portfolio Component Descriptions

Each of these items must be in the submitted portfolio, and they must appear in this
sequence. The portfolio should be one continuous .doc or .pdf file and should be
formatted using American Psychological Association (APA) formatting guidelines.

A. Cover Page: The cover page should include student name, identification
number, address, phone number, Brandman University e-mail address, and
advisor name.

B. Table of Contents: The table of contents includes the page numbers of each
element and supporting documents properly cataloged and noted.

C. Expanded Resume: A resume allows you to highlight more detail about your
work or volunteer responsibilities and accomplishments. Provide an updated
resume to include education and work experiences. Detail significant
activities, exact dates, accomplishments in the workplace, and all informal
and work related training. Create a Relevant Experience section near the
beginning of the resume for items most directly relevant to the course
objectives.

D. Self-Assessment: The self-assessment offers a holistic picture of the
learnerit should define and explain your personal, educational, and career
goals. What changes have you witnessed in the workplace, society, and your
personal life that have affected your decision to seek a degree? Where would
you like to be professionally in 5-10 years, and what are your plans for
meeting those goals? (500 word minimum)


E. Learning Narrative (with Evidence): Students will compose an essay that
both summarizes and reflects upon the learning they have achieved outside
the classroom. In this essay, they must argue, with supporting evidence, how
the competencies gained as a result of these experiences fulfill the learning
objectives for the selected course. Use the course objectives to guide your
discussion of your accomplishments. (2000-2500 words)

Demonstrate what you have actually learned and/or can do by walking
the reader through an analytical reflection of your key or pivotal
experiences.

Highlight the patterns, principles, and theories that connect and
demonstrate your learning. Read several scholarly articles that support
or even contradict your own conclusions (i.e., theories). Explain how the
research compares or contrasts to your ideas. (You may use readings
already listed in the course syllabus)

Document your learning. Each of your experiences and competencies will

require documentation/artifacts. This evidence can take several forms:
Certificates indicating completion of training programs, workshops, or
seminars; personnel records, performance evaluations that specifically
mention relevant competencies; transcripts; work samples;
expert/supervisor testimonials; evidence of knowledge or letters of
verification listing proven competencies from instructors
or employers. Evidence of volunteer work may include awards,
newspaper articles, or letters of commendation.

Remember to only use evidence that supports your claim to have
achieved the competencies required by the course in question. If you use
extraneous or inappropriate artifacts, it may indicate to your evaluator
that you do not understand the course objectives or how your evidence
demonstrates a mastery of them.

With this in mind, select the most relevant artifacts and integrate them
into the Learning Narrative; additional relevant evidence may be placed in
an appendix

IMPORTANT: Writing about your experience alone will not earn credit
from the evaluatoryou must explain specifically how what you have
learned from your experiences fulfills the course learning objectives for
your chosen course.

F. References page (bibliography for works cited in the portfolio): The

References page indicates reading done on the portfolio subject. Students
should have at between 2-8 scholarly references depending upon the level of
theory covered by the selected course. These may be readings from the
course syllabus or references to theorists, laws, economic or statistical data
made in the portfolio.

G. Appendices: Documentation of additional materials such as references used
in citation.

H. Receipt: Include a copy of the receipt for PLA evaluation fee.


III. Academic Integrity

Plagiarism, falsification, or misrepresentation are unacceptable and will
result in disqualification of the portfolio without refund. Academic integrity
violations may also result in disciplinary measures. For an explanation of
Academic Integrity, please consult the current Brandman University Catalog and
consult with your academic advisor and/or the PLA coordinator.

IV. The Completed Portfolio

1. Before submitting your portfolio, it is recommended that you make a copy for
your own records.

2. Pay PLA fee of $300 per three unit course. This is a nonrefundable fee.
Submit the payment to the cashier and a receipt with the portfolio.

3. Expect to receive the results in approximately four to six weeks.

V. Portfolio Evaluation Results

After the portfolio has been evaluated, the scoring sheet that details the evaluators
comments will be returned to the student. The academic advisor will be notified
whether the portfolio was approved or not approved for credit so that any
necessary adjustments may be made to the students education plan. If the portfolio
has been evaluated and an approval for credit granted, the PLA Coordinator will
forward this recommendation to APS. Please allow 2-4 weeks for the credit to
appear on the students records. If the portfolio has been evaluated and not been
approved, no credit will be issued. Portfolios cannot be revised or resubmitted.

If the student does not agree with the assessment of the portfolio, he or she may
petition the results using the grade appeal process as explained in the current
Brandman University catalog.

Prior Learning Inventory

Before you begin your work on the PLA portfolio, you may want to gather the following
information in one place and use it for a discussion of your eligibility with your academic
advisor. You need not have all of these things to write a successful portfolio, but this list
will help you determine whether or not you are a good candidate for the PLA process:

1. Name
Street Address
City, State, ZIP
Home phone, Work phone, Cell phone
e-mail address
Student ID
Academic Advisors Name

2. Education
High School
Dates of Attendance
Colleges
Dates of Attendance
Type of Diploma

3. Military Service
Branch, date entered, date discharged, rank
Optional: military training, schools, type/length of training, occupational specialty,
brief description of military assignments

4. Languages
Language, fluency level (beginning, advanced), spoken or written (or both)

5. Professional Training
Non-credit courses and independent study

Distance courses/ workshops

Seminars and conferences
Training programs
Certificates
Examinations
Include dates, title, school or sponsor, type of training

6. Employment History
Include dates, company name, type of business, job title, job duties, location

7. Professional Societies
Include dates, names, memberships held, offices held, committees on which you
served

8. Original Work
Original reports, articles, grants, technical manuals, marketing materials, copyrights,
Web sites and Intranets prepared either by you or a team
Include dates, companies, and brief description (bulleted format)

9. Computer or Technical Expertise
Include Dates, types of training
Software skills and computer languages, level of mastery (beginning, intermediate,
advanced)

10. Civic or Political Organizations or Activities
Include dates, organizations, brief description of duties (bulleted format)

11. Volunteer Activities
Include dates, organization, brief description of duties (bulleted format)


12. Artistic Pursuits
Artistic ability and knowledge, skills,
Appreciation of the arts
Include dates, types, brief description of artistic works or artists portfolio (bulleted
format)

13. History, Cultural, or Regional Studies
Knowledge of history
Travel, cultures, region
Include dates, type, brief descriptions (bulleted format)

14. Religious and Spiritual Activities
Training, memberships, reading, courses, small groups, retreats, committees served,
missions, self-help programs, or recovery programs
Include dates, sponsor, and brief descriptions (bulleted format)

15. Accomplishments
Inventions or patents, commendations, honors or promotions, trophies, letters of
appreciation, or recognitions
Dates, organizations, brief descriptions (bulleted format)

Transcripts List
List transcripts and records requested
College transcripts, ACE, military records
Include type of manuscript, date requested

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