Walden University's Tempo Learning? Credit By Exam? Searching for an ECE Path!

[iwantmydegreeplz]

Hello!

The only college education I have is a CNA course completion and a certificate in Communications from a nationally accredited school.

I am wanting a bachelors degree in Child Studies/Early Childhood Education. I could not find much for a test out plan for either, but I did stumble upon Walden University's Tempo Learning program. I am curious as to how it compares to Western Governor University's programs as I had attempted a degree there, but I want to work with children younger than what they provide degrees for.

I started to figure out a degree plan for Charter Oak's child studies degree, but I could not find anything to replicate certain courses such as The Exceptional Learner and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Their ECE program seems Connecticut specific and I live nowhere near there and do not wish to participate in a practicum. 

Can anyone give me a little advice, insight, or guidance! Thank you in advance for your help! 

[SweetSecret]

I'm in Walden's Tempo MBA program and can tell you a little about it. Although, I am not sure how it compares to their undergrad program. I hate writing, but I also have major test anxiety. I finished my BA primarily with TECEP exams through TESU. To me, Walden's program is far less stressful than the exams. On the negative side, the per credit hour rate is ridiculously expensive (although I think I found a way to keep my MBA just under $7k) and the program is all reading without any sort of videos to watch. On the positive side, the pre-tests before the written papers tend to be very simple to complete, can be taken numerous times, are not proctored, and the best part is that any sort of interaction with other students is not required or reflected in the grades.

Eriehiker would probably be a great person for you to speak to as this member completed 15 credits in a single term for an MS in early childhood studies. I am still trying to figure out how. I wasted a few weeks on a "Business Essentials" course that was required but zero credits. I think I took this way more seriously than I should have. I am sure I could have completed another 3 credit course in that time had I not taken it so seriously. I also had four surgeries during that term, plus it was over the holiday season and my birthday. So I suppose I was pretty distracted. Eriehiker also mentioned in another thread that in order to get through credits so quickly this member wrote 3-5 paragraphs to the professor upon opening a new course, took the assessment (keep a notepad with answers chosen because if wrong you can re-take quizzes and eliminate incorrect answers) , and then wrote the required papers without reading any of the content. I ended up only completing 3 credits during the single free term, but was also part way through the marketing course with my paper 3/4 completed when the term ended. I saved all the links etc so I could work on my paper during an academic leave. The one thing I really think I did wrong was reading everything and waiting until the end to read my paper, which cause me to have to re-read things numerous times to pull references for the paper. My suggestion would be to look at the rubric which has sections that align with the reading. For each section check what is being asked, read the materials for that section if needed, and then write your essay for that section. I think these credits can be completed faster.

Eriehiker, if you see this, did you use the writing center to check your essays before you turned them into the professor/SME? I did, which seemed to be both good and bad. I think it made my writing quality better but also took more time.

[PrettyFlyforaChiGuy]

I did the MS in ECS (Mgmt, Admin, & Leadership) through their Tempo platform. I knew nothing about the field, and only pursued it as a stopgap degree to keep me busy while working abroad. I felt I learned the material but did put a lot of effort into the papers, projects, and presentations.

If you already have experience working with young children, the program should be more straightforward for you. Also, you can power through the assessments by checking all the boxes in their rubric to "meet expectations," if you aren't too bothered by GPA and just want to get things done.

FYI, there is currently a 50% offer for the life of the program for the BS ECS (Tempo Learning). Walden often offers these deals for their Tempo programs, but can never be sure if it will disappear after that date.

[iwantmydegreeplz]

I'm in Walden's Tempo MBA program and can tell you a little about it. Although, I am not sure how it compares to their undergrad program. I hate writing, but I also have major test anxiety. I finished my BA primarily with TECEP exams through TESU. To me, Walden's program is far less stressful than the exams. On the negative side, the per credit hour rate is ridiculously expensive (although I think I found a way to keep my MBA just under $7k) and the program is all reading without any sort of videos to watch. On the positive side, the pre-tests before the written papers tend to be very simple to complete, can be taken numerous times, are not proctored, and the best part is that any sort of interaction with other students is not required or reflected in the grades.

Eriehiker would probably be a great person for you to speak to as this member completed 15 credits in a single term for an MS in early childhood studies. I am still trying to figure out how. I wasted a few weeks on a "Business Essentials" course that was required but zero credits. I think I took this way more seriously than I should have. I am sure I could have completed another 3 credit course in that time had I not taken it so seriously. I also had four surgeries during that term, plus it was over the holiday season and my birthday. So I suppose I was pretty distracted. Eriehiker also mentioned in another thread that in order to get through credits so quickly this member wrote 3-5 paragraphs to the professor upon opening a new course, took the assessment (keep a notepad with answers chosen because if wrong you can re-take quizzes and eliminate incorrect answers) , and then wrote the required papers without reading any of the content. I ended up only completing 3 credits during the single free term, but was also part way through the marketing course with my paper 3/4 completed when the term ended. I saved all the links etc so I could work on my paper during an academic leave. The one thing I really think I did wrong was reading everything and waiting until the end to read my paper, which cause me to have to re-read things numerous times to pull references for the paper. My suggestion would be to look at the rubric which has sections that align with the reading. For each section check what is being asked, read the materials for that section if needed, and then write your essay for that section. I think these credits can be completed faster.

Eriehiker, if you see this, did you use the writing center to check your essays before you turned them into the professor/SME? I did, which seemed to be both good and bad. I think it made my writing quality better but also took more time.

So, the format for the classes is to write papers? Or is it a mix of that and exams? If there are exams, are they proctored at a place or online proctored?

[eriehiker]

It is almost all papers. I did half of the ECE master's and I can't even remember any exams. If there were any, they were incidental. Format in the papers is very important and, generally, the longer the better. That is probably someone's nightmare scenario, but I write fast. If found that the best strategy was to write fast and keep momentum. I didn't proofread and just turned the papers in as quickly as possible. Normally, if the requirements for a course were complete, a new course can be opened during the grading, so it is best not to proofread and turn things in as quickly as possible.

[eriehiker]

BTW, I would actually recommend the Walden program. It was $1800 per term. Even if it took three or four terms, it is still pretty cheap.

[SweetSecret]

So, the format for the classes is to write papers? Or is it a mix of that and exams? If there are exams, are they proctored at a place or online proctored?

For the program I am in, so far, none of the exams/quizzes have been proctored and there has not been a limit on the number of times you can take them. The quizzes/exams have been super short too... less than 10 questions I would say generally. Basically you have to pass the quiz before you can write your paper for the course. My program has been pretty much all reading and writing. I have been using some text-to-audio plugins and software to mostly listen to the reading materials.

I didn't proofread and just turned the papers in as quickly as possible. ....  it is best not to proofread and turn things in as quickly as possible.

I sent you a message months ago and never heard back. I think this was one of the questions I was asking about was whether you used the writing center for proof-reading and edits. I don't think I could ever complete as many credits as you with my medical issues, but definitely you seem to have figured out a great method to get through the program quickly. My other big concern has been wanting to make sure I keep up my grades for when I apply to a JD program. If you felt not reading the material did not affect your grades I would be tempted to follow your blazed path of just writing the papers without doing the reading. I'm not sure how close they want our papers to match the reading materials provided.

BTW, I would actually recommend the Walden program.  It was $1800 per term.  Even if it took three or four terms, it is still pretty cheap.

I agree! I tend to do a lot of reading anyhow and with all the MOOCs I have become very used to a heavy amount of reading... so I would easily recommend the program to people who don't mind reading in order to save money.