Proactive on Prior Learning - Carl Straumsheim, Inside Higher Ed

Florida’s public institutions are anxiously watching this spring’s legislative session, which rounded the halfway point last week. Regardless of what dies on the floor or is signed into law, the universities are still waiting for clarification on the fallout of last year’s session, including the proposed mandate to offer credit for MOOCs. Some universities aren’t waiting around. Florida International University is in the early stages of creating a pilot for prior learning assessment, which could be used to determine if students have learned enough from an outside course -- whether of the high school, online or massive open online variety -- to qualify for credit. The experiment will begin in in the university's introduction to psychology course, and if the intended spring 2015 pilot is a success, the model may expand to other disciplines, said Kristin Nichols-Lopez, associate chair of the department. The university’s plan -- which faculty will vote on during an April 24 meeting -- involves creating a challenge exam that tests students on a series of core psychology concepts to be determined by the department. http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/04/15/accept-moocs-credit-florida-international-u-may-set-prior-learning-assessment#sthash.NNS1oT8p.dpbs