TESU portfolio tips

[tesu-acct-student]

Regarding the cost: the per credit cost is very reasonable, but I don't like how the pricing is structured:

The fee is $379 for the first 12 credits reviewed (it is not a per-credit fee—it covers up to 12 credits), and then $215 for each additional 6 credits reviewed.

Reference: PLA and Portfolio Help

Assuming courses submitted are three credits each...

For maximum value, submit four courses at first. This yields a per-course cost of $94.75. Then if you submit two courses, the per-course cost is $107.50 . I'll probably be submitting three, but it's still a good value at $126.33 per course.

[Mamasaphire]

I am strongly leaning towards doing PLA portfolios for my last 18 credits of Social Sciences/residency requirement (which I think can be done while I am also working on the Capstone at my local CC if I decide to go that route). I emailed back & forth with the PLA advisor at TESU, and he seemed to think based upon my resume (which included skill sets put into practice with homeschool teaching and multiple longterm volunteer experiences over the last 20+ yrs) that I am a good candidate for PLA credit -- and then I won't have to worry about trying to decide on any more TECEPs.

FYI, it sounds like TESU is tightening their PLA requirements, thus making it extremely difficult for teen/traditional age students to qualify unless they are VERY strong in a subject and able to prove how and why they learned it, plus how they have put it into practice.

[davewill]

... FYI, it sounds like TESU is tightening their PLA requirements, thus making it extremely difficult for teen/traditional age students to qualify unless they are VERY strong in a subject and able to prove how and why they learned it, plus how they have put it into practice.

It would be much harder for someone who merely studied a subject to write a successful portfolio. They would have to go into much more detail on everything. One example portfolio from the book was trying to get credit for a theater production the person had participated in. The narrative was quite involved because she had to tie all of the learning objectives into the one experience.

I was able to simply describe various projects I had designed, spending a little time explaining my process and what solutions I considered and why I made the choices I did and how they worked out. My validation letters were chosen so that they could specifically address the same projects I used in my narrative.

If a test is available, I think it's the easier way to go usually. For instance, I did intro to programming at Saylor simply because it was absurdly cheap and only took an couple of hours of my time to get my testing journey started. However, I also could have just waited and used the same portfolio i used for the programming courses on it.

I also could have banged out the portfolio faster. Like tesu-acct-student, I had to struggle with not knowing how much was enough and procrastinated and fiddled with it longer than I should have.

[MSinger Tesc]

These were done prior to TESU implementing their requirement for PLA100/200, which they made me do even though I had successfully submitted two portfolios. I developed the checklist AFTER those experiences, not during or before.

Just a quick word on this--it's unfortunate that someone told you that you needed to take PLA-100 and PLA-200 if you had already completed portfolios here. PLA-100 was certainly not necessary, as it introduces the concept of prior learning assessment and helps you figure out how to determine whether you have any prior learning that would be college-equivalent, and then which method is the best for you. PLA-200 is really the structure through which you create your portfolios, however many you are doing--it is helpful in making sure that you document everything, that you maximize the number of courses you can get credit for (we want you to use the process, or else why do I have a job?), that you know what learning outcomes are and how to address them effectively--and so we recommend that you take it, but on the other hand, if you have already done this successfully, it's not required.

I'm glad to see the other positive comments about the portfolio process here. Let us know how we can make it better.

Marc Singer, Vice Provost
Center for the Assessment of Learning
Thomas Edison State University

[jsd]

You can replace PLA-100 and PLA-200 with the free Kaplan course.

Edit: Nevermind, posted before I saw MSinger Tesc's comment.

[mccatm]

Regarding the cost: the per credit cost is very reasonable, but I don't like how the pricing is structured:



Reference: PLA and Portfolio Help

Assuming courses submitted are three credits each...

For maximum value, submit four courses at first. This yields a per-course cost of $94.75. Then if you submit two courses, the per-course cost is $107.50 . I'll probably be submitting three, but it's still a good value at $126.33 per course.

Hi,

I am confused on the cost of this PLA. Do you pay 379 for 12 credits to be reviewed plus 520 per credit? Or do you only have to pay the 379 fee?

[tesu-acct-student]

Hi,

I am confused on the cost of this PLA. Do you pay 379 for 12 credits to be reviewed plus 520 per credit? Or do you only have to pay the 379 fee?

It's a bit confusing so I might not understand it correctly. For me, I know that I only have to pay the $379 fee for 12 credits, but that's probably because I've taken PLA100/200. I am not certain if that price applies to somebody who has not completed PLA100/200. Go to this link and scroll down the area where it says, "What Does it Cost?" Look for the chart and the diagram:

PLA-100 and PLA-200

[sanantone]

Hi,

I am confused on the cost of this PLA. Do you pay 379 for 12 credits to be reviewed plus 520 per credit? Or do you only have to pay the 379 fee?

Portfolio assessments are charged at a flat rate because they are not courses. Only online, guided study, and e-Pack courses are charged by credit hour. Also, TESU only charges $520 per credit hour if you are under the Per Credit Tuition Plan.

[mccatm]

Portfolio assessments are charged at a flat rate because they are not courses. Only online, guided study, and e-Pack courses are charged by credit hour. Also, TESU only charges $520 per credit hour if you are under the Per Credit Tuition Plan.

Thank you for the information. So if I want to do the portfolio assesment for 12 hours and I am out of state. The TOTAL cost will be 379? Are there any other fees involved to obtain 12 credits? If so, this might be a good option for me for accounting courses. I have been in the accounting industry for 15 years and have used/applied lots of course work in my roles.

[davewill]

Thank you for the information. So if I want to do the portfolio assesment for 12 hours and I am out of state. The TOTAL cost will be 379? Are there any other fees involved to obtain 12 credits? If so, this might be a good option for me for accounting courses. I have been in the accounting industry for 15 years and have used/applied lots of course work in my roles.

Remember you have to take the PLA100/200 classes, which costs >$1500 in the per-credit plan, out of state, so it's more like $1850 for 15 credits. Still quite a bargain.