About

Experiential Learning, or prior learning assessment, is a systematic process for evaluating and credentialing learning gained in a variety of contexts. These contexts include both formal and non-formal learning experiences that take place in work settings, through military training, in the community, through independent study and through certification by professional organizations. Implementing this systematic process of evaluation is one of the ways in which a college or university demonstrates its support of lifelong learning and acknowledgement of previous learning.

Various organizations and institutions have developed different definitions of prior learning assessment, but they share a common set of assumptions and values, including:

• Individuals learn throughout their lives in a variety of ways and in a range of settings.
• Adults who return to college often have a variety of life and work experiences which may have resulted in college-level learning.
• Through the use of experiential learning assessment options, universities more effectively educate the returning adult student who brings with them a rich background of experiences and an ability to frame these experiences within an academic context.
• Formal learning that occurs in schools, colleges and universities is not necessarily of higher quality than non-formal learning gained through life and work experiences.
• The learning experience itself is not what is being evaluated for academic credit. Translating the experience into learning or competencies is what is being assessed and may result in academic credit awards.
• Faculty members can reliably assess college-level skills and knowledge gained outside the college classroom.
• Adult students, with appropriate guidance, can articulate, document and analyze the learning they have gained through life and workplace experiences. Their challenge is to examine their learning through an academic lens and integrate connections between their experiences and the course objectives.