TESC's portfolio assessments are now a much better deal than LearningCounts

[sanantone]

Thanks to QuickCS for pointing this out.

One can now complete the required PLA 100 and PLA 200 through free, open course, non-credit options.

These courses are now openly licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (CC-BY 4.0), and can be freely accessed here (PLA-100) (PLA-200). If you choose, you can work through these open courses tuition-free. At this time, you cannot receive credit towards your degree for working through the open version of these courses; however, it will satisfy the program requirement. Once you have finished the courses, please alert Thomas Edison PLA staff before you submit any portfolios for assessment.

Open Course Option for ASBA « Saylor Academy

The first 12-credit portfolio is only $350. That comes out to be about $29.17 per credit hour. Every 6-credit portfolio, or part thereof, is $200 each thereafter. If you complete 6 credits as opposed to just 3 credits, that comes out to be about $33.33 per credit hour. And, IIRC, a portfolio can only cover one subject area. For example, you can't mix chemistry and accounting subjects in one portfolio.
PLA-100 and PLA-200

LearningCounts requires either an $895, instructor-led course or a $149, self-directed course. One can only complete 3-credit portfolios for $125 each. That comes out to be about $41.67 per credit hour plus the required introductory courses.
LearningCounts | Time and Cost | Experiential Learning

Keep in mind that if one completes 12 credits in residence for an associates or 24 credits in residence toward a bachelors, one can opt for the Per Credit Tuition Plan and not have to pay the $3,062 enrollment fee under the Enrolled Options Plan. Portfolio assessments, TECEPs, ePacks, and online/guided study courses count toward the residency requirement. In theory, one could get away with only forking over $750 to TESC plus the graduation fee to graduate with a business degree. For bachelor degree programs that require a capstone, one would pay $2178 plus the graduation fee. The Technology Service fee is not required for students under the Per Credit Tuition Plan. This is cheaper than COSC and Excelsior. The bonus is that the credits earned through the portfolio assessments (or TECEPs which are only $108 for non-residents) can be used to replace CLEPs, DSSTs, Uexcels, and much more expensive courses saving you even more money in comparison to COSC and Excelsior.

[KayV]

Also, even if you decide to do the Open Course option for your portfolio, you can still get credit for PLA-100 and PLA-200 by completing the Kaplan course and putting it on your ACE transcript.

[sanantone]

Also, even if you decide to do the Open Course option for your portfolio, you can still get credit for PLA-100 and PLA-200 by completing the Kaplan course and putting it on your ACE transcript.

And, it's free! You just have to pay for the transcript. Was it Photog who took this course?

[toddsbiyj]

Quote Originally Posted by KayV View Post
Also, even if you decide to do the Open Course option for your portfolio, you can still get credit for PLA-100 and PLA-200 by completing the Kaplan course and putting it on your ACE transcript.

I took the Kaplan course (free), pretty easy stuff if you just want the free credits. No issues with getting it transferred to ACE.

If you are actually interested in doing a portfolio, as I understood it, you have 60 days from the time you sign up to complete a FREE protfolio for up to (I believe a maximum) of 15 credits. Also if you go over the 60 day limit, you can still do portfolios for cheap. The Kaplan counselor phoned me and we discussed this and it seems almost too good to be true. I will probably be pursuing some of the portfolio credits but if anyone else is interested, take advantage of it before the offer runs out.

[FallingWaters]

Could someone post a link to the Kaplan info? The only thing I found was not free.

[sanantone]

Could someone post a link to the Kaplan info? The only thing I found was not free.

https://openlearning.kaplan.com/kuopenlearning/LRC100/

[SweetSecret]

This probably wouldn't be useful for me, but just for more info incase others are interested...

How much does Kaplan charge for the portfolio review? Am I correct in understanding that TESC will review portolios after taking the Kaplan course as well, rather than the Saylor course?

[lawqueen04]

This is pretty attractive! I am curious though if I was to take a few saylor open classes that would normally probide credit, ie: a literature or psychology would they provide me with enough information to do a portfolio similar to the Empire State/Saylor agreement? I mean possible18 credits for free(or a minimal price) I would take the chance!

[sanantone]

This probably wouldn't be useful for me, but just for more info incase others are interested...

How much does Kaplan charge for the portfolio review? Am I correct in understanding that TESC will review portolios after taking the Kaplan course as well, rather than the Saylor course?

TESC will allow PLA courses from other schools to replace its own.

This is pretty attractive! I am curious though if I was to take a few saylor open classes that would normally probide credit, ie: a literature or psychology would they provide me with enough information to do a portfolio similar to the Empire State/Saylor agreement? I mean possible18 credits for free(or a minimal price) I would take the chance!

TESC recommends Saylor's business courses for portfolios. Well, the 18 credits will cost you $550. While that's cheap, I wouldn't exactly call it nominal.

[Saharapost]

I was wondering how PLA credits are transcribed on TESC's transcript- does anyone has an idea?