Engaging the Portfolio Giving Prior Learning Experience Life

Engaging the Portfolio: Giving Prior Learning Experience Life and Meaning Through Research Anne Behler, Information Literacy Librarian & Instruction Coordinator Penn State University @annielivre behler@psu. edu

Who are Online Learners? 18 -24 25 -35 2535 36 -50 51 -59 60+

“someone who is 24 years of age or older; or a veteran of the armed services; or an active-duty service member; or returning to school after four or more years of employment, homemaking, or other activity; or a person who assumes multiple adult roles such as parent, spouse/partner, and employee”

88

PLA

Ways to Submit for PLA credits Ranked by frequency of use 2015 -16, incoming students @ Penn State • Transfer Credits = 95% • • • Military Transfer College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Nursing Block Credit Advanced Placement (AP) Courses DANTES (testing service for service members) Credit by Portfolio Credit by Examination International Baccalaureate American Council on Education (ACE) Recommendations

LA: 201 W • Unit 1 – An introduction to Experiential Learning & the Elements of a Learning Portfolio • “Learning is the major process of human adaptation. This concept of learning is considerably broader than that commonly associated with the school classroom. It occurs in all human settings, from schools to the workplace, from the research laboratory to the management boardroom, in personal relationships and the aisles of the local grocery. ” – David A. Kolb • Unit 2 – Exploring Experience through Research & Design • Proposal writing • Charting a research path – writing research questions and identifying search terms using concept mapping • Writing and annotated bibliography for context • Unit 3 – Portfolio Development and Assembly

So what does a finished portfolio look like? • Bike Mechanics and Marketing Experience • Entrepreneurship in the Film Industry • Coaching Portfolio

LA: 201 W – Fall 2015 • 22 students enrolled • 17 located somewhere other than University Park • 3 from international locations • Volunteers, entrepreneurs, military veterans • ~16 could be classified as adult learners • PLA submission • 2 submitted – 100% success rate

The portfolio course challenged students… • “…I can truly say it has been one of the most challenging writing intensive classes I've had to be more creative in design than content which really pushed me out side my comfort zone. That's a good thing. ”

The portfolio course helped students make meaning… • “…Reflecting on what I've learned in putting together my portfolio, I realized that the editing skills are so paramount in today's age of technology. It is no longer the matter of finding an answer, rather, it is the matter of deconflicting an infinite number of answers. What editing has taught me, is to choose one paradigm of thought and run with it. . . while knowing that there might be just as strong of an argument or vantage point on the other side. I can never be 100 percent objective or comprehensive, and that is O-K. This was a HUGE lesson to learn…. ”

The portfolio course was an opportunity to develop an extremely positive mentor relationship between faculty and students… • “Thank you also to you for your guidance and assistance helping me through with the course. You have helped me a great deal. You're an amazing teacher and I will always be grateful for all your help getting me through this process…. ”

Future • Revision of some course assignments in response to areas of difficulty for students (Annotated Bibliographies!) • Expansion of LA: 201 W – • Integrated Social Sciences will require it • Military Section • Formation of “teaching group” • Director of PLA, Assistant Dean for Online Education and Outreach (LA), Diana Gruendler, Anne Behler • Wider adoption of portfolios @ Penn State - standardization • Presentations & Research • Further research into adult learners’ information literacy skills • Development of corresponding

For More Information • Penn State Credit by Portfolio Assessment Procedure: http: //undergrad. psu. edu/aappm/E-10 -credit-by-portfolioassessment. html • College of the Liberal Arts Credit by Portfolio Procedure: http: //www. la. psu. edu/current-students/studentservices/academic-procedures/credit-by-portfolio

Resources and Images Resources: Kolb, David A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. OCLC. (2014). At a tipping point: Education, learning and libraries, a report to the OCLC membership. Dublin, OH: Author. Rice, Michele. Director of PLA @ Penn State University. Creative Commons Images: Metropoliceco. DOTorg. hand drauf. Retrieved from flickr. com Penn State. Amy Hinkle, a senior horticulture major with a business production focus at Penn State. Retrieved from flickr. com. Penn State. Diana Livingston with children from her student internship. Retrieved from flickr. com Penn State ROTC on Veterans Day 1. Retrieved from flickr. com Penn State World Campus student Michael Conrad. Retrieved from flickr. com All example portfolios used with student permission.