Methods for validating nontraditional study are discussed and the premises on which they are based are the subject of this article. (Editor/PG)

Credit by examination is essentially the awarding of credit for theoretical knowledge gained outside traditional classroom situations. The examination provides the basis for the kinds and numbers of credits awarded. Programs in credit by examination are innovative because they recognize that people do indeed learn, either purposefully or…

This report presents guidelines developed by a task force at William Rainey Harper College (Illinois) for translating experiential learning into academic credit. Introductory sections describe the institutional commitment to granting credit for non-traditional learning experiences, a new related Associate in Liberal Studies degree, the current…

It is suggested that student learning through cooperative education programs should be evaluated in terms of stated objectives, and that it should be the basis for awarding degree credit. Purposes of, responsibility for, time of, and means of evaluation are discussed. (Author/LBH)

Central Michigan University's experiential learning program and the guidelines for awarding academic credit are described. Graduate students may apply for college credit on the basis of relevant skills which have been acquired as a result of their occupational, military, and personal experiences. The evaluators judge the student's application to…

This is the introduction and summary of a series of six papers discussing major issues about student assessment for the University of Wisconsin Extended Degree Program, a program designed to give academic credit for college level learning derived from experiences outside the scope of formal classes. A distinction is made between prior learning,…

A general overview of the Cooperative Assessment of Experiential Learning's Operational Models project is presented. The information is intended to aid other institutions in developing a similar model. Three papers are included: Developing an Operational Model for Assessing Experiential Learning by Warren W. Willingham and Kurt F. Geisinger,…

This supplement to the 1977 literature guide contains 250 citations of reports, journal articles, and dissertations discussing college-level learning for which students or potential students might seek credit. It is organized into five parts. Part A covers experiential learning programs; Part B focuses on student learning; Part C is an…

The implementation of the Adult Degree Completion Program (ADCP) at Antioch-Yellow Springs is described. The ADCP is a transfer program designed to enable adults who have never finished colege to complete their undergraduate degree work, often without having to abandon their obligations to families or to professions. To enroll in the program,…

The history of post secondary education in the U.S., and the role of experiential learning in its improvement are discussed. Topics of discussion include: the relationship of experiential learning to individuals' information processing, the need to clarify objectives, and the potential effect of new educational objectives on teaching and…

This guide is designed for college students interested in developing their interpersonal skills through an experiential learning program. Experiential learning is defined as learning--either prior or sponsored--which takes place outside the classroom. Guidelines for developing objectives, planning the learning activities, and preparing for…

A model for assessing and awarding credit for prior experiential learning is presented; the adult student's experiences are summarized in a portfolio. The model incorporates eight stages: facilitating the construction and assessment of a portfolio, identifying significant prior experiences, expressing the learning outcomes of prior experiences,…

This student guide is directed at the adult student who petitions for college credits based on prior experiential learning. It will assist such adults in maximizing the value of their prior experiences in relation to educational goals and successfully obtaining appropriate credit. The reader is led step by step through the process of identifying…

This guide is organized into three parts. Parts A and B contain bibliographic citations and brief annotations; Part C is an alphabetical listing of all references. Topics included in Part A are: the rationale and history of experiential learning, types of programs, program planning and implementation, program evaluation and quality assurance,…

Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, is a competence-based, baccalaureate-degree-granting institution created in 1971 to serve adults. The Operational Models Project was designed to improve the university's program for assessing experiential learning. Specific purposes of the project were: (1) to describe a program for…