What is the format of available sources of alternative credit?

[Pelican]

This site has lots of information about different tools for earning alternative credit, such as Saylor.org, Straighterline, etc. The only tool I have used so far is Study.com.

The format has been: (1) complete short quizzes after watching a video (or alternatively, reading the video transcript); (2) completing end-of-chapter quizzes (on 5-15 videos); (3) complete a proctored final exam on all of the content. Some of the classes additionally have writing assignments, projects, or labs (the latter appearing on another site). The upper level classes typically have more videos, more quizzes, and more additional tasks, such as papers.

What is the format of other alternative credit sources?

[dfrecore]

Saylor is free courses, and then you pay $25 to take the final exam. You don't have to take the course if you don't want to. Some of the computer courses are terrible, the quizzes are completely wrong. My husband, who has taken the CISSP in the past, couldn't pass the Networking exam, which he was really irritated with. I imagine he could take the TECEP and pass with flying colors, if that's an indicator of the quality of the test. But other courses/tests are supposed to be good (Marketing is one in particular that people have been happy with).

SL - you get a free eTextbook with most courses. The course format is usually chapter quizzes, which count for a large portion of the course grade, and then a final exam. It is possible to score so high on the quizzes that you then can fail the final with a 0 and still pass the course. I imagine most people fall somewhere along the spectrum (fairly high on quizzes and then fairly well on the final).

Sophia has videos that you watch, quizzes, and then a final exam. You can take a free course to check them out if you want.

CLEP/DSST/TECEP/UExcel are exams only. You can get resources in a variety of ways to study for the exams.

Modern States is a free resource to help study for CLEP exams; video-based I think. And then they send you a voucher to take a free CLEP exam once you pass the course.

Ed4Credit is similar to SL, except that you need to pass the final in order to pass the course (so 70% on the quizzes and then 70% on the final).

Coopersmith/Davar/CSU-Global - I don't know.

[jsh1138]

Shmoop gives you written material with videos as well as outside links you're expected to read. Some courses have books or movies they want you to watch too. The finals are not proctored and credit for credit its about the cheapest way to go for what they offer, which is mainly English Lit type stuff

[Ideas]

At Davar, they give you some slides and quizzes, and suggest a textbook. The slides are from the textbook. You study however you want and take the exam. Most have short essays like TECEPs. Some Davar courses require an assignment or more than one.

CSU-Global has a course with suggested textbook readings and practice questions, but it's optional. You can study how you want and take the exam when ready.

If you use Modern States, you have to do all the questions before you can get a voucher. They have transcripts of the videos.