Cammy White
An esteemed NOVA instructor and counselor for many years, the late Cammy White was also author of the original portfolio development course content for PLACE (Prior Learning Activity for Credit Evaluation). Most of the content and wording used on this site is taken directly from Cammy White's PLACE manual. Due to her (and other esteemed PLACE instructors) efforts in laying the foundation for portfolio development instruction at NOVA, we are now able to move into new, exciting terrain - electronic portfolio development.
What are the options for portfolio development at NOVA?
If you decide that your past experiences seem comparable to the content in a NOVA course(s) and you would like to challenge the course through portfolio development, PLACE (Prior Learning Activity for Credit Evaluation) might be a good option for you. While enrolled in PLACE (SDV 298), a 3-credit class offered both on campus and online through ELI, students create portfolios showcasing their prior experiential learning in order to challenge specific courses at NOVA. Students taking PLACE on campus will create physical notebook portfolios, while students taking PLACE through ELI will create e-portfolios.
What is an e-portfolio?
An e-portfolio is a digital compilation of materials representing college-level learning acquired through a variety of academic, life, and professional experiences. Learning acquired through these alternative educational experiences and unaccredited college work is frequently referred to as 'prior learning' at NOVA.
Who benefits from portfolio development?
Portfolio development is appropriate for students who have prior learning which cannot be easily measured through CLEP, DANTES or other credit-by-examination options. If you have significant prior learning from working or volunteering (normally at least five years), reading books and journals, attending conferences, workshops, or in-service training programs, or from instruction through correspondence schools, postsecondary adult schools, or continuing education programs, you may be able to have this learning evaluated through the portfolio process. (Introduction, PLACE)
Another important benefit of portfolio development is that a portfolio is an excellent way to showcase your life, career, and educational experiences to future employers. E-portfolios have the added benefit of proving to employers that you are technolgically adept and able to learn new skills rapidly.
How do I learn about all of the ways to earn credit for my prior learning at NOVA?
Extensive information on all of NOVA's policies regarding prior learning can be found in the College Credit Through Advanced Standing manual. Before proceeding with the portfolio development process, please carefully review this manual (see p.36 of this manual for information on PLACE policies) and contact your campus counselor or NOVA's Prior Learning Specialist, Katie Smith ([email protected]), with any questions. Ideally, portfolio development should take place very early in a student's academic program, so that students will be able to plan out an appropriate academic program with a counselor (p.2, PLACE). After all, our hope is that NOVA students will only take classes that will add to, rather than repeat, their prior learning acquired outside of college. It is very helpful when writing a portfolio to have selected a program of study and to know which courses are required for that degree. However, some students use the portfolio development process as an exploratory tool to decide on a degree program. (p.7, PLACE)
What skills do I need before registering for PLACE?
The ability to write in a clear and concise manner is critical to creating a good e-portfolio. In most cases, completion of ENG 111 or the equivalent is recommended before developing a portfolio.
Keep in mind that NOVA does not award credit for experience alone. Credit is granted for certain types of learning that need to follow these academic principles, developed by CAEL, The Council on Adult and Experiential Learning):
(1) Learning must reflect both a practical and theoretical understanding of a subject.
(2) Learning must be generalizable outside of a particular context.
(3) Learning should be applicable to a specific class taught at NOVA.
(4) Learning will ultimately be deemed college-level by faculty members in the discipline associated with the topic.
In other words, credit will be granted for the learning, either knowledge or skills, acquired during a non-college experience, not for the experience itself.
An esteemed NOVA instructor and counselor for many years, the late Cammy White was also author of the original portfolio development course content for PLACE (Prior Learning Activity for Credit Evaluation). Most of the content and wording used on this site is taken directly from Cammy White's PLACE manual. Due to her (and other esteemed PLACE instructors) efforts in laying the foundation for portfolio development instruction at NOVA, we are now able to move into new, exciting terrain - electronic portfolio development.
What are the options for portfolio development at NOVA?
If you decide that your past experiences seem comparable to the content in a NOVA course(s) and you would like to challenge the course through portfolio development, PLACE (Prior Learning Activity for Credit Evaluation) might be a good option for you. While enrolled in PLACE (SDV 298), a 3-credit class offered both on campus and online through ELI, students create portfolios showcasing their prior experiential learning in order to challenge specific courses at NOVA. Students taking PLACE on campus will create physical notebook portfolios, while students taking PLACE through ELI will create e-portfolios.
What is an e-portfolio?
An e-portfolio is a digital compilation of materials representing college-level learning acquired through a variety of academic, life, and professional experiences. Learning acquired through these alternative educational experiences and unaccredited college work is frequently referred to as 'prior learning' at NOVA.
Who benefits from portfolio development?
Portfolio development is appropriate for students who have prior learning which cannot be easily measured through CLEP, DANTES or other credit-by-examination options. If you have significant prior learning from working or volunteering (normally at least five years), reading books and journals, attending conferences, workshops, or in-service training programs, or from instruction through correspondence schools, postsecondary adult schools, or continuing education programs, you may be able to have this learning evaluated through the portfolio process. (Introduction, PLACE)
Another important benefit of portfolio development is that a portfolio is an excellent way to showcase your life, career, and educational experiences to future employers. E-portfolios have the added benefit of proving to employers that you are technolgically adept and able to learn new skills rapidly.
How do I learn about all of the ways to earn credit for my prior learning at NOVA?
Extensive information on all of NOVA's policies regarding prior learning can be found in the College Credit Through Advanced Standing manual. Before proceeding with the portfolio development process, please carefully review this manual (see p.36 of this manual for information on PLACE policies) and contact your campus counselor or NOVA's Prior Learning Specialist, Katie Smith ([email protected]), with any questions. Ideally, portfolio development should take place very early in a student's academic program, so that students will be able to plan out an appropriate academic program with a counselor (p.2, PLACE). After all, our hope is that NOVA students will only take classes that will add to, rather than repeat, their prior learning acquired outside of college. It is very helpful when writing a portfolio to have selected a program of study and to know which courses are required for that degree. However, some students use the portfolio development process as an exploratory tool to decide on a degree program. (p.7, PLACE)
What skills do I need before registering for PLACE?
The ability to write in a clear and concise manner is critical to creating a good e-portfolio. In most cases, completion of ENG 111 or the equivalent is recommended before developing a portfolio.
Keep in mind that NOVA does not award credit for experience alone. Credit is granted for certain types of learning that need to follow these academic principles, developed by CAEL, The Council on Adult and Experiential Learning):
(1) Learning must reflect both a practical and theoretical understanding of a subject.
(2) Learning must be generalizable outside of a particular context.
(3) Learning should be applicable to a specific class taught at NOVA.
(4) Learning will ultimately be deemed college-level by faculty members in the discipline associated with the topic.
In other words, credit will be granted for the learning, either knowledge or skills, acquired during a non-college experience, not for the experience itself.
Important PLACE Items to Consider
PLACE may not be a perfect fit for every student. Be sure to consider the following items before enrolling in the class:
1) Students may not use financial aid to pay for credits earned through portfolio development, though financial aid may be used towards the 3-credit PLACE class itself.
2) Credit earned through PLACE may not be used to meet the residency requirement for graduation, but the 3 credits from SDV 298 do count towards residency.
3) Students must register and pay full tuition for each course challenged prior to faculty evaluation.
4) A different portfolio must be submitted for each individual course challenged, excluding foreign language portfolios.
5) Credit is awarded based upon the recommendation of a faculty member, who will assign a grade of "P" for a credit-worthy portfolio or a "W" if credit is denied.
6) Students may be awarded up to 15 credits through PLACE, plus the three-credit SDV 298, toward an associate degree. Students may receive up to 10 credits toward a certificate or career studies certificate through PLACE. *Exceptions considered in rare cases.
7) PLACE credits do not transfer to many four-year institutions, so students are encouraged to review the transfer policies of their intended transfer institution before enrolling in PLACE. Some programs that will accept PLACE credits include George Mason University's Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS) program, UMUC, and Thomas Edison State College, among others.
Who will help me develop my portfolio?
1) Students may not use financial aid to pay for credits earned through portfolio development, though financial aid may be used towards the 3-credit PLACE class itself.
2) Credit earned through PLACE may not be used to meet the residency requirement for graduation, but the 3 credits from SDV 298 do count towards residency.
3) Students must register and pay full tuition for each course challenged prior to faculty evaluation.
4) A different portfolio must be submitted for each individual course challenged, excluding foreign language portfolios.
5) Credit is awarded based upon the recommendation of a faculty member, who will assign a grade of "P" for a credit-worthy portfolio or a "W" if credit is denied.
6) Students may be awarded up to 15 credits through PLACE, plus the three-credit SDV 298, toward an associate degree. Students may receive up to 10 credits toward a certificate or career studies certificate through PLACE. *Exceptions considered in rare cases.
7) PLACE credits do not transfer to many four-year institutions, so students are encouraged to review the transfer policies of their intended transfer institution before enrolling in PLACE. Some programs that will accept PLACE credits include George Mason University's Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS) program, UMUC, and Thomas Edison State College, among others.
Who will help me develop my portfolio?
My dog, Buzbi
Do not worry! Your PLACE instructor will help guide you through every step of the portfolio development process, with podcasts, online tutorials, readings, and individual counseling sessions, as needed.
To be successful in PLACE (SDV 298) online, you only need to have basic computer skills and the willingness to learn how to create your very own portfolio website on Weebly (this site). The tabs on this site above (Cover Letter, Life History, etc.) serve as a template of an e-portfolio, representing the type of content and format required for the online PLACE class.
Steps in the Portfolio Development Process
Student Responsibilities:
1) Enroll in PLACE (SDV 298) at NOVA, either through ELI (online) or on campus.
2) Complete a portfolio/e-portfolio(s), which includes the items below, in the following order:
(1) a cover letter
(2) a brief life history
(3) a chronological record of your life events
(4) a list of short and long-term career and educational goals
(5) NOVA course content summaries
(6) a clarification of your learning experiences referred to as a narrative of competencies
(7) and supportive documentation.
Staff Responsibilities:
1) Your PLACE instructor will work with the appropriate division office at NOVA to arrange for a faculty reviewer to evaluate your portfolio(s) for college credit.
2) After the evaluation, you will be awarded specific course credit commensurate with learning, if the faculty recommends credit.
3) Your PLACE instructor will encourage you in the process of creating a comprehensive, high-quality e-portfolio that will validate your prior learning and help you realize your true value as a student and individual in this world!
To be successful in PLACE (SDV 298) online, you only need to have basic computer skills and the willingness to learn how to create your very own portfolio website on Weebly (this site). The tabs on this site above (Cover Letter, Life History, etc.) serve as a template of an e-portfolio, representing the type of content and format required for the online PLACE class.
Steps in the Portfolio Development Process
Student Responsibilities:
1) Enroll in PLACE (SDV 298) at NOVA, either through ELI (online) or on campus.
2) Complete a portfolio/e-portfolio(s), which includes the items below, in the following order:
(1) a cover letter
(2) a brief life history
(3) a chronological record of your life events
(4) a list of short and long-term career and educational goals
(5) NOVA course content summaries
(6) a clarification of your learning experiences referred to as a narrative of competencies
(7) and supportive documentation.
Staff Responsibilities:
1) Your PLACE instructor will work with the appropriate division office at NOVA to arrange for a faculty reviewer to evaluate your portfolio(s) for college credit.
2) After the evaluation, you will be awarded specific course credit commensurate with learning, if the faculty recommends credit.
3) Your PLACE instructor will encourage you in the process of creating a comprehensive, high-quality e-portfolio that will validate your prior learning and help you realize your true value as a student and individual in this world!