Back to School Isn't Just for Kids: Learning Portfolios Help Adults Save Time and Money to Get Their Degrees

CAEL's program assists adults with finding practical ways to transfer prior experiences and skills learned outside classroom to college course credits. Learning from work may be worth college credit at www.LearningCounts.org. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) July 31, 2013 - (Chicago) - It's Back to School time, and while most people think that time of year is just for kids, a new evaluation tool can help adults save time and money and go back to school too, Pamela Tate, CEO and president of the Council of Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) announced today. The program assists adults with their educational endeavors, finding practical ways to transfer prior professional experience and skills learned outside the classroom to college course credit to help them complete their degrees.

In discussing the program Tate said, "Back to school time is the perfect time for adults to work on advancing their careers. Thanks to learningcounts.org it's easier than ever for them to see how their prior work and volunteer experience can translate into college credit and push them closer to their degrees. It's a great time of year when the whole family can be focused on advancing their education."

According to Tate, learning portfolios are an effective tool for evaluating college level learning acquired outside of traditional academia and helping students earn credits for a college degree in a way that saves time and money while maintaining academic rigor. Also, bringing all of their rich experience, college-level learning and college courses together to earn credentials and degrees helps adults be more marketable in the workforce.

Tate added, "Adults know their knowledge comes from more than just a course, a classroom or a lecture, and we know it too. CAEL has developed a system that evaluates learning experiences including employment, military service, volunteer activities or participation in massive online open courses (MOOCs) which is then documented and assessed in a learning portfolio."

Barbara Lovas, a 54 year old LearningCounts student who received 24 college credits by preparing a learning portfolio, praised the method for taking into account her 32 years of experience as an interpreter. "I am so thankful for this opportunity, says Lovas. "Not only has it allowed me to receive college credit for learning I have gained from my many years of experience and training, but it has also given me an opportunity to document my life experiences that relate to my career goals. The outcome has been priceless."

Added Tate, "Back to school time can also mean more flexibility for parents who may now have more time available during the day when their children are in school. A LearningCounts portfolio can help them not only get the credit they need, but allow them to work on their own time in a way that is most convenient for them."

All LearningCounts students receive their portfolio assessment results within two weeks -- and with some colleges direct transcription. The LearningCounts credit recommendations are accepted by colleges and universities that respect the history and learning of adult students and find them the most reasonable path to earning a college degree.

Concluded Tate, "For more than 38 years CAEL has focused exclusively on the needs of adult learners. LearningCounts.org is a wonderful system that addresses their needs, and we urge everyone to take advantage of this program that can easily put you on the path toward finishing your degree."

The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization based in Chicago, Illinois that assists adults with their educational endeavors, finding practical ways to transfer prior professional experiences and skills learned outside the classroom to college course credit and the completion of a postsecondary degree. CAEL works with the public sector, private sector industries and higher education institutions to ensure that adult students receive the most efficient training and education to occupy a meaningful professional place in a 21st century economy. Since 1974, CAEL has assisted colleges and universities in providing college credit for prior learning. CAEL is the recognized national expert on a method known as portfolio assessment, and their Ten Standards for Assessing Learning are used by colleges and universities, as well as accrediting organizations, across the country.

LearningCounts.org is managed by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), and operates with support from Lumina Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, the State Street Foundation, the Houston Endowment, USA Funds, and Brown Foundation. The Walmart Foundation is also providing support and funding scholarships for eligible users of LearningCounts.org.

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