Description/Abstract:
ABSTRACT
AN INSTITUTIONAL EVALUATION OF PERCEPTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS OF PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS
Judith F. Raulf
The purpose of the study was to make an institution-wide examination of the perspectives of those involved in the educational process at County College of Morris to determine if there are barriers that impede full acceptance of and implementation of a prior learning assessment program at the college. The purpose of the study was twofold: 1) to determine if barriers exist that prevent the full utilization of the prior learning assessment program, and 2) if barriers exist, to make recommendations to lower them and to strengthen the prior learning assessment program.
Information was collected by examining college records and documents and clarifying questions that arose from that examination; eliciting, through face-to-face interviews, the perceptions and beliefs of members of the board of trustees, administrators, full-time faculty and part-time faculty, students who had participated in the prior learning assessment program and students who had not participated in the program; and validating the interview findings through telephone surveys of faculty and students who were not part of the original interviews. Thus, research triangulation was accomplished.
Analysis of the data shows that there are barriers to full acceptance of and participation in the prior learning assessment program at County College of Morris including: lack of awareness of the program; limitation to introductory-level courses; and exclusion of other methods of assessing knowledge such as portfolio assessment.
This study has implications for review of college policies and practices to accommodate adult learners. It provides administrators with suggestions for prior learning assessment program modifications that can be used for program improvement.