Personalized Learning program through Northern Arizona University

[Life Long Learning]

Personalized Learning program through Northern Arizona University was on PBS News Hour show on 9.19.2017.  President Rita Cheng says its the first in the US.  They claim 172 graduates.
http://pl.nau.edu/

[Ideas]

They don't have many degrees through PL. I think it's only 3 or 4 including Business Administration and Liberal Arts.

[Life Long Learning]

I was thinking WGU was the first?

[sanantone]

I don't know why she thinks they're the first. Their program just sounds like a regular old competency-based program modeled after WGU. I'm not even sure if NAU came second.

[Thorne]

I don't know why she thinks they're the first. Their program just sounds like a regular old competency-based program modeled after WGU. I'm not even sure if NAU came second.

It seems to be a little different. The intro video says that they split up topics into small lessons, each with a post test, that are lumped together to form competencies. If true, this is quite different from places like Patten, Capella, WGU, and Hodges iin that you don't have to study to pass a single, overarching test for a course, but can study to pass a large number of smaller tests which, when combined, make up courses, credits, and degrees.

I'm not sure if it is better than WGU, but it is interesting.

[Life Long Learning]

I don't know why she thinks they're the first. Their program just sounds like a regular old competency-based program modeled after WGU. I'm not even sure if NAU came second.

It seems to be a little different. The intro video says that they split up topics into small lessons, each with a post test, that are lumped together to form competencies. If true, this is quite different from places like Patten, Capella, WGU, and Hodges iin that you don't have to study to pass a single, overarching test for a course, but can study to pass a large number of smaller tests which, when combined, make up courses, credits, and degrees.

I'm not sure if it is better than WGU, but it is interesting.

That would make them unique.  

I know of one CC that teaches a Fire Science AAS degree that way.  One credit at a time and when you do three in a row they change transcript to show a 3 SH course.  Kind of neat idea.  Eating elephant one bit at a time.

[jsd]

I don't know why she thinks they're the first. Their program just sounds like a regular old competency-based program modeled after WGU. I'm not even sure if NAU came second.

It seems to be a little different. The intro video says that they split up topics into small lessons, each with a post test, that are lumped together to form competencies. If true, this is quite different from places like Patten, Capella, WGU, and Hodges iin that you don't have to study to pass a single, overarching test for a course, but can study to pass a large number of smaller tests which, when combined, make up courses, credits, and degrees.

I'm not sure if it is better than WGU, but it is interesting.

I believe this is how Capella is setup, actually

[sanantone]

I don't know why she thinks they're the first. Their program just sounds like a regular old competency-based program modeled after WGU. I'm not even sure if NAU came second.

It seems to be a little different. The intro video says that they split up topics into small lessons, each with a post test, that are lumped together to form competencies. If true, this is quite different from places like Patten, Capella, WGU, and Hodges iin that you don't have to study to pass a single, overarching test for a course, but can study to pass a large number of smaller tests which, when combined, make up courses, credits, and degrees.

I'm not sure if it is better than WGU, but it is interesting.

But, several competency-based programs make you complete multiple assignments and/or assessments per competency. That's what I did at Edmonds Community College. I don't see how this is much different; it just sounds more tedious.

[varJosh]

I have taken a 6 month semester from NAU and i found I learned more taking courses on Straighterline and Study.com than I did while at NAU. The competencies are very quick to get through if you know the subject and pass the assessment with at least an 86 and another Mastery assignment to earn an A for the course. If you don't have knowledge in the subject, you must learn enough to pass the exams and assignments with at least an 86.

I chose to take NAU courses because I wanted to get a high G.P.A. to transfer into graduate school, but I only managed to get 12 credits (at 4.0). For me, I was really bored with the format and couldn't manage more than 12 credits due to working 48-60 hours a week at the time. TESU was a godsend for me

[Life Long Learning]

I don't know why she thinks they're the first. Their program just sounds like a regular old competency-based program modeled after WGU. I'm not even sure if NAU came second.

It seems to be a little different. The intro video says that they split up topics into small lessons, each with a post test, that are lumped together to form competencies. If true, this is quite different from places like Patten, Capella, WGU, and Hodges iin that you don't have to study to pass a single, overarching test for a course, but can study to pass a large number of smaller tests which, when combined, make up courses, credits, and degrees.

I'm not sure if it is better than WGU, but it is interesting.

But, several competency-based programs make you complete multiple assignments and/or assessments per competency. That's what I did at Edmonds Community College. I don't see how this is much different; it just sounds more tedious.

Edmonds Community College in WA claims to be a leader in Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)?  Is that true?  They claim its also "resident" credit which is huge, but is it hype?