TESC PLAs using Saylor courses

[SweetSecret]

Marc Singer responded to me on a Saturday!

I also asked him if PLA-100 and PLA-200 would be waived if I earned credits by PLA at ESC. He said yes. This means that you don't need to complete any kind of introductory PLA course if you earned credits by PLA at another school.

Okay, now I need to think about how to approach this. I certainly don't need to go around making enemies, but at the same time it seems like the best thing to do is for me to approach Marc Singer directly with my questions and ideas for PLA credits. Any thoughts on this?

I really appreciate you double checking with him!

[sanantone]

Okay, now I need to think about how to approach this. I certainly don't need to go around making enemies, but at the same time it seems like the best thing to do is for me to approach Marc Singer directly with my questions and ideas for PLA credits. Any thoughts on this?

I really appreciate you double checking with him!

You can try talking to Todd Siben again and tell him you received confirmation from Mr. Singer on the things he sent me in the email. You can also explain to him that anyone with expertise in criminology, sociology, or women/gender studies should be able to evaluate a sex trafficking portfolio. If that doesn't work, then you should just email Mr. Singer. He seems to be a lot easier to deal with. Mr. Siben tends to turn from nice to rude when you point out his mistakes.

[SweetSecret]

I received another e-mail today from Todd Siben, basically re-iterating what he told me that the Saylor PLA can't be use to fulfill the TESC PLA. He said he forwarded my message to his manager, who I assume is probably Marc Singer, to "rectify inaccuracies" on the Saylor website.

I ended up sending an e-mail to Marc Singer today, but a message popped back that he is out until the 24th of the month. I did mention in the e-mail about faculty from the sociology and criminology classes being able to review my credits.

[sanantone]

I received another e-mail today from Todd Siben, basically re-iterating what he told me that the Saylor PLA can't be use to fulfill the TESC PLA. He said he forwarded my message to his manager, who I assume is probably Marc Singer, to "rectify inaccuracies" on the Saylor website.

I ended up sending an e-mail to Marc Singer today, but a message popped back that he is out until the 24th of the month. I did mention in the e-mail about faculty from the sociology and criminology classes being able to review my credits.

Could I dislike this man any more? Maybe if he was a mass murderer I could.

[bricabrac]

Have you considered using Learning Counts for the PLAs? Check out the following threads by FallingWaters, our resident specialist in this area. She used PLAs for UL credit in her BA Music degree at TESC.

Process http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...pdate.html
Courses http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...s-org.html



I've previously discussed my interactions with Mr Siben. Now I simply choose to fall back on what I was taught by my Mom, "If you don't have anything nice..."

[SweetSecret]

Have you considered using Learning Counts for the PLAs? Check out the following threads by FallingWaters, our resident specialist in this area. She used PLAs for UL credit in her BA Music degree at TESC.

Process http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...pdate.html
Courses http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...s-org.html

I've previously discussed my interactions with Mr Siben. Now I simply choose to fall back on what I was taught by my Mom, "If you don't have anything nice..."

Initially I had looked into learning counts, but since I'm on the pay per credit plan and just need to finish 18 credits to fulfill residency, I was hoping to complete the PLAs directly through TESC using the free Saylor PLA 100/200 courses. Or as Sanantone pointed out, maybe not even needing the PLA 100/200 at all since I already have PLAs from other colleges, so I've had some experience proving college level learning for courses.

[bricabrac]

Initially I had looked into learning counts, but since I'm on the pay per credit plan and just need to finish 18 credits to fulfill residency, I was hoping to complete the PLAs directly through TESC using the free Saylor PLA 100/200 courses. Or as Sanantone pointed out, maybe not even needing the PLA 100/200 at all since I already have PLAs from other colleges, so I've had some experience proving college level learning for courses.

I see. Now I'm a bit confused. Maybe the problem is in the terms used. Is it possible that you are confusing the free PLA intro courses mentioned for the Saylor ASBA degree plan with the TESC FREE PLA-100/200 courses? (links below)

Maybe you were unaware that TESC has two versions of the TESC PLA intro courses, one is free - you receive acknowledgement for taking the courses but earn no credit. The second has a course fee and you earn 3 credits total.

At one time someone on the forum mentioned using the TESC credit earning PLA courses as a possible method of earning elective credit. But then the free Kaplan option was introduced. I think the two options have now become confused. Do a search, there have been threads on this subject.

Here are the links to the free version PLA courses

https://sites.google.com/a/courses.tesc....00-public/
https://sites.google.com/a/courses.tesc....00-public/

I sure hope this wasn't even more confusing!

[SweetSecret]

Bricabrac, the links you posted are the same links used by the free Saylor PLA courses from TESC. Like I said above though, Mr. Siben is saying those courses are incomplete & wouldn't give access to the PLA process at TESC. Marc Singer's auto-response was on his e-mail saying he'll return to the office on the 24th, so I'll probably have to wait until then for an answer.

[bricabrac]

Bricabrac, the links you posted are the same links used by the free Saylor PLA courses from TESC. Like I said above though, Mr. Siben is saying those courses are incomplete & wouldn't give access to the PLA process at TESC. Marc Singer's auto-response was on his e-mail saying he'll return to the office on the 24th, so I'll probably have to wait until then for an answer.

Ok, I guess I somehow missed one or two of the posts on this thread. I also think I fully understand the problem, Mr Siben wants you all (current/future students) to take the credit bearing courses? That's it in a nutshell, yeah? Guess the recent sales push towards the PLA program was yet another loss. Well, in my opinion, it seems as if they pigeonholed him into that position so they (management) now have to eat crow. To be a fly on the wall when dealing with all his brilliant "new and exciting" ideas for his PLA program (reasons to keep his job yet another year). The guy, God Bless him, is so obviously tenured (rolls eyes); either that or his godfather is the Governor.

I certainly hope his superiors can help to solve this issue to your benefit. If for some reason it does not work out, try using FallingWaters approach for your Upper Level courses and test out of a few of the 100/200 level TECEPs to clear the residency requirement. Unfortunately this may be the only workaround since it looks as if he may be digging in. I certainly hope they can get those free courses approved or even the Kaplan course so you can move forward. I'm sorry you have to go through this nonsense. It would seem the more independent students tend to clash with Mr Siben's personality. Good luck to you!

[SweetSecret]

If for some reason it does not work out, try using FallingWaters approach for your Upper Level courses and test out of a few of the 100/200 level TECEPs to clear the residency requirement.

I told Mr. Siben that if I am going to be required to pay for the PLA 100/200 through TESC, that I'll have to just do TECEPs to fulfill my residency... because I don't have the money to take those other courses. With the $350 and the hard textbook ($140 value) I have right now, I could finish up 4 more TECEPs (also fulfilling 12 credits) but it would take more time to study. I'd also have to complete either the Marketing Communications or Managerial Communications to fulfill the upper level liberal studies area of study, which I still need 3 more credits in. Both of those TECEPs do require an essay though and would require more time studying than if I just did the PLAs. If I have to go that route though I think I'll take these TECEPs: Marketing Communications, Public Relations, Marriage and the Family, & Computer Concepts (just because it looks like one of the easiest).