| Level of Invasiveness |
Type of Documentation Sought |
Description |
Potential Problem defined |
| Lowest |
Credit by exam (based on general knowledge) |
Tests: Advanced Placement tests, SAT IIs subject areas, Thomas Edison College Examination Program (TECEP), Excelsior College Exams (ECE) and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs), CLEP tests, GRE subject areas. Find Prometric Testing Centers at www.2test.com
http://www.gre.org/ Graduate Record Exam; also eight subject areas to say you've learned a Bachelor's degree-worth of content.
http://www.excelsior.edu/exold/804.htm Has Excelsior credit bank and credit review links, as well as their four main college catalogs: liberal arts, nursing, business, technology. Also, book order form and enrollment forms.
http://www.getcollegecredit.com/
http://www.collegeboard.org/ap/students/subjects.html
www.collegeboard.org/ap/students/ Advanced Placement exams
|
Publications and websites are available with practice questions; the textbooks are your own choice. Still need to be aware: of evolution in science; of political correctness in "social studies" areas. Not all institutions accept all tests! Check ahead of time. |
| Low |
Text-based correspondence course |
The course lists the text(s) that are used, with no additional materials needed.
http://www.degree.net/ very helpful source from John Bear. Be careful to type correctly, there are copycat sites out there.
http://voled.doded.mil/dantes/exam/ece.htm DANTES sites for Excelsior testing.
http://voled.doded.mil/dantes/exam/01-02.htm actual exams schedule: ACT, CLEP,GRE subject exams, Excelsior (ECE), LSAT, GED, more.
http://www.collegeboard.org/clep/clepstud/html/stud001.html with a CLEP by computer with instant test results option
|
Student and institution know ahead of time what material will be covered; you can avoid objectionable texts. Using Christian settings can alleviate many concerns. |
| Med-High |
Transfer credits already earned to a credit bank |
Use credit banks to store community college or distance credits. Some universities that provide portfolio assessment and credit banking services are Thomas Edison State College, Charter Oak, Excelsior College, and Ohio University.
www.tesc.edu Thomas Edison State College, Trenton NJ
www.excelsiorcollege.edu
http://www.back2college.com/accelerate.htm
Provide portfolio assessment and credit banking services are Charter Oak and Ohio University.
|
Invasiveness level is determined by the original course that was taken. Using Christian settings can alleviate many concerns. |
| Med-High |
Interaction-based class (live or asynchronous) |
Video, phone conference or scheduled on-line interaction for hooked-up discussions and questions.
http://www.degree.net/schools/100schools.html "Bear approved" links to all in book.
Portals:
http://www.hungrymindsuniversity.com/
http://www.mindedge.com/home/index.phtml
http://www.cyberu.com/
http://iiswinprd03.petersons.com/distancelearning/default.asp
http://www.dlcoursefinder.com/
www.thespringsmall.com/resumes/index.htm author Criscito's links
http://distancelearning.rit.edu/ Rochester Inst Tech
http://sln.suny.edu the SUNY network for distance learning.
www.suce.syr.edu/distanceEd/ Syracuse University
www.esc.edu/cdl for SUNY Empire State College
|
Higher level of pleasing the professor and peer pressure. Using Christian settings can alleviate many concerns. |
| Med-High |
Portfolio Assessment credit, or Life Experience Evaluation |
Life experience learning (missions work, apprenticeship time, other) gains credit for work done.
http://www.cael.org/index.asp CAEL (The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning) is a non-profit organization committed to providing better access to education for adults, through partnerships with business, government, labor and higher education.
Portfolio assessment and credit banking services are Thomas Edison State College, Charter Oak, Excelsior College, and Ohio University.
|
Fairly high level of pleasing the evaluator/s. Using Christian settings can alleviate many concerns. One strategy is to hunt a course or institution that is equivalent to your real life learning. |
| High |
Consultant for specialized degree, "guided study" |
Student works with a professor on campus to integrate a mixture of courses and testing and life experiences. May have varying levels of on-site time required.
http://www.lawprogram.com/ Bears' site for law degrees.
|
Fairly high level of pleasing the evaluator/s. Using Christian settings can alleviate many concerns. Method is advantageous for specialized interests. |
| High |
Internship |
Student has text work and/or written documentation as well as practicum. Can be highly individualized; some institutions offer internship programs in conjunction with employers. |
Very high level of pleasing the evaluator/s. Using Christian settings can alleviate many concerns. Student must be highly motivated and diligent if they are designing their own internship. |
Six regional accrediting organizations for majority of colleges and universities in US. All these associations have been approved by both CHEA and US Dept of Ed: