Capstone requirement change at TESU

[MNomadic]

"As if taking courses from SL or SDC really prepares anyone"

"I certainly didn't learn a great deal from taking English Comp 1 and 2."

If you personally didn't learn from those experiences, then the responsibility still lies with you to learn and get up to speed with what would be expected of someone who had finished those courses traditionally.

Example: even though I've gotten A's in all my math classes from grade school, highschool and college level materials, I still found that I have deficiencies or holes in my knowledge. I don't blame the schools and classes that I've had in the past for not preparing me, instead I find other resources to bring me up to the standard and fill in my knowledge gaps.

[mysonx3]

"I didn't learn anything" is very far from calling the class illegitimate. I'm taking six brick and mortar classes this quarter and in five of them I have learned exactly nothing. I think the point is that many, many people already have the knowledge taught in many college classes. That's why things like CLEP exist in the first place - to get credit for knowledge gained outside a college setting. There's a huge difference between cheating and already having the knowledge necessary before you begin, and frankly it's rather insulting to conflate the two.

[zzzz24]

"As if taking courses from SL or SDC really prepares anyone"

"I certainly didn't learn a great deal from taking English Comp 1 and 2."

If you personally didn't learn from those experiences, then the responsibility still lies with you to learn and get up to speed with what would be expected of someone who had finished those courses traditionally.

Example: even though I've gotten A's in all my math classes from grade school, highschool and college level materials, I still found that I have deficiencies or holes in my knowledge. I don't blame the schools and classes that I've had in the past for not preparing me, instead I find other resources to bring me up to the standard and fill in my knowledge gaps.

I definitely agree and I am not disputing that. 
I am just stating my personal opinion so far after completing many courses, including almost all upper level courses at this point. Maybe some people who have very little job experience or post secondary education may feel different. 

But I better not post anything further that is negative in any way in regards to course content from these providers so I don't "ruin it for others" according to some people. 

[vetvso]

"As if taking courses from SL or SDC really prepares anyone"

"I certainly didn't learn a great deal from taking English Comp 1 and 2."

If you personally didn't learn from those experiences, then the responsibility still lies with you to learn and get up to speed with what would be expected of someone who had finished those courses traditionally.

Example: even though I've gotten A's in all my math classes from grade school, highschool and college level materials, I still found that I have deficiencies or holes in my knowledge. I don't blame the schools and classes that I've had in the past for not preparing me, instead I find other resources to bring me up to the standard and fill in my knowledge gaps.

I definitely agree and I am not disputing that. 
I am just stating my personal opinion so far after completing many courses, including almost all upper level courses at this point. Maybe some people who have very little job experience or post secondary education may feel different. 

But I better not post anything further that is negative in any way in regards to course content from these providers so I don't "ruin it for others" according to some people. 

I can understand both sides and there just needs to be balanced. I think most active people here over the years have used the resources to document knowledge they already know and only learn a little extra along the way. It's the graduate courses where I learn the most now, and it may be the same for others. All of these resources are legitimate and can offer different opportunities to different people. I think that is what everyone is saying here and I will let this thread be.

[cookderosa]

Learning can't always be measured, so we use the tools we have and hope for the best. Grades? Credits? Diplomas? Degrees? The premise that those credentials measure / reflect learning is flawed. But, if you keep "credential earning" in one pile, and "learning" in another, you can pursue the best of both worlds.

[MNomadic]

But, if you keep "credential earning" in one pile, and "learning" in another, you can pursue the best of both worlds.

I like that. I always considered knowledge and credentials to be like a venn diagram which usually overlaps, but not always. In my experience most undergraduate level knowledge and a large amount of knowledge beyond that is freely available on the internet. So knowing that I can learn almost anything I want for free, I usually seek the cheapest possible accredited (or credit recommended) course, degree or credential(even if it doesn't offer the best learning experience).

[Merlin]

As if taking courses from SL or SDC really prepares anyone for the capstone. cmon, really??
I have not experienced very tough grading so far...

If TESU really did care about preparing students for the capstone, than a mandatory university level writing course would make sense.
Anything else is just a pointless money grab, just as the cornerstone was.

They do require the standard college English courses which cover research papers. You should have finished them before trying the capstone. Specifying 100 credits first is surely an attempt to get better prepared students in the capstone courses. Nothing here sounds like a money grab, unless they try to specify a certain number of TESU courses, which they haven't done.

Having graded credit as possibly a requirement based on the wording in the 2019 policy was basically what he was alluding to when creating this thread. Which means either courses at TESU or some other B&M institution. 

I don't know about everyone else on here, but I certainly didn't learn a great deal from taking English Comp 1 and 2.

Personally, I learned quite a bit, particularly from English Comp I, but I took the teacher-led version on Straighterline which is more rigorous and has a wider variety of writing assignments.

[armstrongsubero]

@Merlin I agree SL Eng Comp actually taught me a bit.

[Merlin]

I have been watching this forum and TESU since 2007 and really started asking questions in 2010. Many things have changed and many people have come and gone. I lost credits several times because I had not finished my degree but I personally have enjoyed the educational ride over the years. The capstone and requiring a few paid for classes seems reasonable to me since I want them to stay in business. However, keeping everything affordable for lower-income people is also something I hope TESU can achieve. Most people can get a Pell Grant and offset some of these costs and I think there may be a push by TESU in this direction. For the most part, I have welcomed most of the changes but have to admit I miss the FEMA and ALEKS days and only wish I had finished the degree before everything changed. I wish everyone here success on their future degrees and whatever careers they choose. I for one am planning to teach in retirement and that is my current goals. I really like TESU and will be finished soon and have other plans with them in place.

This sounds like me. I also started around the same time and took a bunch of FEMA courses back when everyone accepted then, but then real-life got in the way and I didn't make it back until late 2017. Things constantly change around here. The nice thing about alternate education is that it appeals to everyone. I'm pretty sure nobody will lose their ACE recommendation because of one person who feels that the material isn't challenging enough for them. Everyone is different, courses that others say is easy I found hard, and courses I found easy other people find hard.


I thought I'd make an off-topic comment...

I am also considering teaching in retirement, which is one of the reasons I'm looking to continue my education beyond the BSBA. My wife is an adjunct professor right now, so I'm familiar with the process, though I'd like to end up on tenure track if I do teach. That's harder to get into, especially as an older educator, but has more earning potential. Alternatively, going into academic research is another area I think I'd enjoy.

Either way, if it weren't for alternative education I'd not have gotten off my butt to get my degree.

[Mab81]

Well this is potentially frustrating. I am already having trouble paying for my classes in cash each month. Had to pay for my Cornerstone in cash too... I cannot afford to turn around and register for the Capstone in January and pay over a thousand dollars. I sent an email to TESU (since I am enrolled) asking specifically if it will be a problem that I have no GPA due to all my credits being from alternative providers. I hope, hope hope hope they reply and say it won't be a problem. It will already be a hardship to pay tuition for the Capstone at the original time I planned on it. I cannot afford to take another expensive class at TESU just to get a letter grade to meet a new requirement to even REGISTER for the Capstone...